§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with current levels of local authority staff.
§ Mr. KingNo. The all-time-high level of local authority manpower recorded in June 1979 has, according to the Joint Manpower Watch Surveys, been reduced 351W only marginally in each of the succeeding quarters in 1979—reductions of 0.4 per cent. and 0.3 per cent. respectively. This can, at best, be regarded as no more than a small beginning to the substantial reduction in staff which will be required if the reductions in public expenditure, set out in the Government's White Paper, Cmnd. 7841, are to be achieved.