§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Minister for the Civil Service what changes have occurred in the numbers of non-industrial civil servants over the latest period of 12 months for which information is available; and if he will detail the policy changes to which the changes in numbers are attributable.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerFollowing are the figures:—
Non-industrial Industrial Total 1.7.72 497,130 191,920 689,050 1.7.73 508,054 185,287 693,341 Policy changes are only one of the factors which combine to produce a change in the size of the Civil Service in any period; but amongst the more recent affecting the non-industrial grades in the past year will have been the expansion of Government training centres, and industrial rehabilitation units, the development of the constant attendance allow- 102W ance, the introduction of value added tax, entry to the EEC, the transfer of the Weapons Group of the Atomic Energy Authority to the Ministry of Defence and the run-down of the advisory services in the MAFF. Other factors include our drive for greater efficiency and the impact of external influences on existing policies, notably the changes in the size of the particular population groups to be served; and in the period in question the difficulties of recruiting and retaining all the staff required have to some extent offset the further increases which I have said would be necessary, in my supplementary answer to the hon. Member on 20th December 1972.