HC Deb 15 November 1965 vol 720 cc22-3W
Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cumulative total of investment in equipment designed to streamline the operation of the Civil Service, excluding the Armed Forces, during the past 10 years.

Mr. MacDermot

The cumulative total of expenditure on the provision of office machinery of all kinds for the Civil Service, excluding Defence Departments and the General Post Office during the ten years 1955–56 to 1964–65 was £15,280,000.

Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present strength of the Civil Service, excluding Armed Forces personnel; and what percentage of the total working population of the United Kingdom this represents.

Mr. MacDermot

Numbers of civil servants in post at 1st July, 1965 Percentage of Total Working Population of the United Kingdom
(thousands)
Excluding Post Office:
Non-Industrial 420.4 1.6
Industrial 234.5 0.9
Including Post Office:
Non-Industrial 806.0 3.1
Industrial 234.9 0.9

Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the probable strength of the Civil Service in 1975, excluding Armed Forces personnel; and what percentage of the total working population of the United Kingdom this figure is likely to represent.

Mr. MacDermot

No estimate can usefully be made for 1975.

Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present annual cost to the taxpayer of Civil Service personnel, excluding Armed Forces personnel, as compared with 1955, and the best estimate he can make for 1975.

Mr. MacDermot

The total of nonindustrial Civil Service pay was as follows:

Excluding Post Office Including Post Office
£ million £ million
Year ended 30th September, 1955 255 386
Year ended31st March, 1965 473 733

No estimate can usefully be made for 1975.