§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed reductions in the number of civil servants employed in his Department; and what reductions so far have been carried out.
§ Mr. HeseltineBetween 1 May 1979 and 1 April this year the total number of staff employed in my Department fell by 3,841 or by 7.4 per cent. The reduction encompasses, in part, the saving of some 5,989 staff announced by my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council on 6 December last, to be achieved in my Department by 1982–83. Additionally, arising from my review of the functions of the Department, I intend to make a further saving of at least 3 per cent. of current posts during the course of the 1980–81 financial year.