§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the legislative or policy reasons which will require, according to the table on page 108 of Command Paper No. 6393, an increase in Government office space of 3.4 million sq. ft. in 1979 compared with 1976.
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§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the main reasons for the estimated expansion of 7 million sq. ft. in Government offices and other buildings between 1975 and 1979, as set out in "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Command Paper No. 6393).
§ Mr. FreesonThe increases reflect the growth in the non-industrial Civil Service forecast at the time the White Paper was prepared. The increases are mainly in the staff needed to collect taxes and to administer social security benefits. The effect on the area of the office estate of the proposed reductions in the size of the Civil Service cannot be assessed until decisions have been taken on where the savings will occur.