HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 c982W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to reduce his Department's central administrative costs. [187488]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Table 7.1) shows that the administrative costs of the Department (including Ofsted) will fall from £276 million in 2005–06 to £262 million in 2007–08. This reduction will be principally achieved by reducing staffing by 1,460 posts in the Department by April 2008, but will also reflect other improvements arising from the Efficiency Review.