§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give figures showing to what extent, taking into account the transference of workers within grades and groupings and redesignation of appointments, there has been an increase or reduction in the total number of civil servants since October 1974 until the latest most convenient stated date.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisAt 1 October 1974 the number of civil servants was 687,000, and at 1 January 1979, the latest available date, the total was 733,000.
These figures are not directly comparable. In January 1976 the 21,000 staff of the Manpower Services Commission and its agencies were included in the total and the size of the Civil Service at that date was 745,000. Since then Civil Service 175W numbers have decreased by 12,000 reflecting planned programmes of staff reductions, greater emphasis on general efficiency measures, and shortfall in recruitment.