§ Mr. Dan Jonesasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on Civil Service manpower costs.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Government have now identified savings of £95 million in Civil Service manpower and related expenditure in 1978–79. The effect of these savings will be a reduction of about 26,000 in the originally planned strength of the Civil Departments for 1978–79. In addition there will be about 20,000 United Kingdom based posts to be given up by April 1979 as a result of savings already announced in defence expenditure. Discussions are continuing between the managements of each Department and representatives of the Staff Side interests concerned over the detailed implementation of these savings. Consultations are also continuing with other interested bodies.
Additional savings in Civil Service expenditure will be the subject of continuing studies. There will be consultations with the Staff Side before further decisions are taken.
The reductions in Civil Departments' relevant expenditure are as follows:
384W
£m Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 3.4 HM Customs and Excise 6.1 Inland Revenue 16 Department for National Savings 2.7 Department of Education and Science 1 Department of Employment Group 8.1 Department of the Environment 13.4 Ordnance Survey 1 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 7 Home Office 2.9
Department of Industry 3.8 Civil Service Department 1.7 HM Stationery Office 1.9 Scottish Office 2.4 Department of Health and Social Security 14.4 Department of Trade 1.7 Other Departments (less than £1 million each) 7.5
§ Mr. Nottasked the Minister for the Civil Service when he will announce details of the manner in which he will implement the proposed reduction in Civil Service staff costs of £62 million in 1977–78.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisI would refer the hon. Member to my answer earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Jones) in which I announced the Government's decision to make savings of £95 million in expenditure on Civil Service manpower and related administration in 1978–79. So far as 1977–78 is concerned, these savings will give rise to reductions of some £36 million out of the original £50 million target—equivalent to £46 million of the £62 million target at 1976 prices. The savings in expenditure, by Department, will be as follows:
1975prices £m. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1.3 HM Customs and Excise 2.3 Inland Revenue 13.1 Department for National Savings 0.5 Department of Education and Science 0.4 Department of Employment Group 2.2 Department of the Environment 3.9 Ordnance Survey 0.4 Home Office 0.7 Department of Industry 1.4 Civil Service Department 0.6 HM Stationery Office 0.1 Scottish Office 0.9 Department of Health and Social Security 5.5 Department of Trade 0.6 Other Departments 2.4