§ Mr. Buchananasked the Minister for the Civil Service why information readily available to hon. Members in March 1972 by means of Parliamentary Question to the Minister, in regard to the number of retired civil servants at present employed in Government Departments or in organisations for which the Government are financially responsible, is not now available on the grounds of disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe information provided in March 1972 related to retired civil servants employed in Government Departments. This number, which was estimated at 20,000–21,000, has changed little since then. The hon. Member's recent Question related to those employed both in Government Departments and in organisations for which the Government are financially responsible. As no information is available about the latter, the wider figure is, as I indicated, not available.