HC Deb 24 October 1975 vol 898 cc284-5W
Mr. Sainsbury

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many staff have been employed in the Management Services Division of the Civil Service Department in each of the last five years; and on how many occasions in the last five years has the Management Services Division employed outside consultants.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The number of staff employed in the management services divisions of the Civil Service Department on 1st October each year since 1970 is as follows:

1970 109
1971 116
1972 118
1973 98
1974 100
1975 103

During this period the divisions have employed outside consultants on 43 specific occasions. In addition, there is a standing contract with one institution which has been used to provide a number of consultants on those occasions when fluctuations in demand and workload have made this necessary.

Mr. Sainsbury

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total value of the financial economies achieved by Government Departments as a result of studies carried out in co-operation with the Management Services Division of the Civil Service Department in the last 12 months.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The greater part of the divisions' work is devoted to improving systems for the allocation and control of resources; the savings that result cannot normally be quantified. Some savings are however identifiable. Those expected from work done over the last 12 months are of the order of £4 million, part once-for-all, part recurrent. Further substantial savings are expected from other projects now in hand.