§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the aggregate number of non-industrial civil servants in February 1974 and April 1979, respectively; and what plans he has to secure reductions in this total.
§ Mr. ChannonThere are no figures available centrally for February 1974, but in March of that year there were 515,000 non-industrial civil servants and in April 1979 the corresponding figure was 566,000. There is not a direct comparison between the numbers at the two dates. In January 1976 the staff of the68W Manpower Services Commission and its agencies were included in the total and at April 1979 the non-industrial staff in the Commission totalled 23,000.
As regards plans to secure reductions in the present number of non-industrial civil servants, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby).
§ Mr. Mawbyasked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has for longer-term cuts in the Civil Service.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Government intend to make major savings in the size and cost of the Civil Service over the next few years. Ministers in charge of Departments are accordingly conducting a radical review of their activities in order to identify possible savings from the improvement of efficiency and the curtailment or elimination of functions. The Civil Service unions will be consulted as appropriate. The Government's decisions will be announced in the autumn.