§ 23. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give a detailed statement showing to what extent the Government's policy of reducing the size and money costs of his Department have affected his head office in Whitehall and other home establishments; and if he will give figures to show the reduction in manpower and financial costs since October, 1964, to the latest convenient stated date.
§ Mr. HealeyThe initial impact of the Government's defence economies has been felt mainly in the level of our forces serving overseas and of their local support; and the rate of reduction of home establishments has been affected by the return of forces to this country. Nevertheless, considerable savings have already been made in home establishments and the Whitehall headquarters, whose total active strength, both military and civilian, in the summer of 1969 was about 34,000 below the comparable figure in October, 1964. At today's price levels, this represents a reduction of about £45 million a year in personnel costs.