§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the operation of cash limits (a) has had in the current year and (b) will have had to the end of the current financial year upon the number and location of staff in his Department.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIn common with all Government Departments, the Home Office has been required to keep expenditure on staff and associated costs within a prescribed cash limit. This restriction has been achieved by exercising tighter control over such matters as complementing, overtime working and general administrative expenses. It has not been and will not be necessary during the current financial year to impose any arbitrary restrictions on staffing levels solely on account of the need to keep expenditure within the prescribed cash limit.