§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence, what increase or decrease there has been in the non-industrial staff of the defence Departments since 15th October 1964; and what decrease he anticipates during the next six months.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThere has been a decrease of nearly 3,000 in the non-industrial staff of the Defence Departments since 16th October, 1964 but in the same period some 4,250 staff formerly classified as serving in industrial grades have been reclassified as non-industrials.
Defence Estimates for 1968–69 provides for a decrease of 1,200 in the number of U.K. based non-industrial staff during the year. It is expected that the reduction will in fact be greater. It is, however, too early to forecast how many of these savings will occur during the next six months.