HC Deb 05 December 1975 vol 901 cc352-3W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he intends to impose cash limits, or numerical ceilings, upon Civil Service manpower and its related expenditure during the current financial year.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

No. But strict control will continue to be exercised to restrict manpower and expenditure to the minimum necessary to meet the demands placed on the Civil Service by Parliament.

Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what instructions he has given to Ministers to reduce the numbers of civil servants within their Departments and to secure other economies.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The size and cost of the Civil Service are directly related to the work it is given to do by Parliament. Ministers are under instruction to ensure that their Departments are tautly complemented and that everything possible is done to seek efficiency and economy.