§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the total number of staff employed in his Department on 1 May 1979 and the total staff costs with details for 1 January, and what action he proposes to take to reduce the costs of administration of his Department during the current year.
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§ Mr. WhitelawThe total number of staff in post in the Home Office on 1 May 1979 and 1 January 1980 was 33,452 and 33,680 respectively. The increase reflects the priority that continues to be given to the prison, immigration and police support services. The monthly cost of pay expenditure in the immediately preceding month was respectively£16.8 million and £20.1 million. Measures to reduce staff costs are being pursued in accordance with the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department on 6 December last.—[Vol. 975, c.627–28.]