§ 89. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings, in money and manpower, he expects to make in the next financial year by substituting contract cleaners for the Civil Service cleaners in the cleaning of Government offices.
§ Mr. Harold LeverIn 1969–70 I expect a saving of £400,000 and a reduction of between 3,000 and 3,500 in the number of Civil Service cleaners, who mostly work part-time. There will be some money saving in 1968–69, but the amount will depend on the rate at which it proves possible to make the change.
§ 102. Dame Irene Wardasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken with regard to the Valentine representations he has received from the lady cleaners regarding their dismissal from the cleaning service.
§ Mr. Harold LeverThe substance of the representations in the 1,700 identical Valentine cards sent to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already been put to the Treasury more fully, though in less romantic form, by the Civil Service Union. Discussions with the Union are continuing, but I can hold out no hope that I shall be able to forgo the savings obtainable by transfer to contract cleaning.