HC Deb 03 April 1980 vol 982 c347W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what has been the number of civil servants on the first day of each month from 1 May 1979 until 1 April 1980.

Mr. Channon

Information on the total number of civil servants is collected centrally at quarterly intervals. The latest information on the number of permanent staff in post over the period referred to is as follows:

1 April 1979 732,300
1 July 1979 723,700
1 October 1979 712,300
1 January 1980 707,800

Part-time staff are counted as half units.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants left the Civil Service during 1978–79 and 1979–80; and how many he estimates will leave during 1980–81 and 1981–82.

Mr. Channon

In 1978, 67,000 non-industrial civil servants left the Civil Service. In 1979 the number was 66,400. Information on the number of industrial civil servants leaving the Civil Service is not held centrally but could be within the range 15,000–20,000. Future numbers of leavers cannot be estimated with any accuracy, but the total is not expected to change significantly.