§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give details showing to what extent the Government have implemented their policy of reducing the labour force in London and the South-East by reducing staffs employed in Government offices in the South-East; and, taking October, 1964 as the datum time, if he will give either actual or percentage figures of staffs employed in London and the South-East as at June, 1968.
§ Mr. Harold LeverSince October, 1964, decisions have been taken to move away from London and the South-East Government work involving some 14,000 jobs. During the same period, but partly as a result of earlier decisions, some 5,600 jobs have actually moved away from these areas.
The percentage increase in the employment of non-industrial staffs between July, 1964 and January, 1968, the nearest available dates, was 12–8 in London and the South-East, and 14–8 elsewhere in the United Kingdom.