§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the number of civil servants in post on 1st March 1974; and by how many this fell short of requirements.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonOn 1st March 1974 there were 697,059 civil servants in post, about 25,000 fewer than the number for which provision was made at 1st April 1974 in the 1973–4 Estimates and 18,000 less than the reduced ceiling imposed by the previous Chancellor's economy measures of May 1973. This shortfall followed a period of high wastage and low recruitment to which the hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Baker), the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department, referred in his answer of 17th October 1973.