Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the total number of staff employed in his Department on 1 May 1979 and the total staff costs, with similar details for 1 January; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the costs of administration in his Department during the current year.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1980, c. 723]: The number and cost of staff employed in the Treasury were:
Staff in post: 1 May 1979 … … … 1,024½ 1 January 1980 … … … 987½ Cost: May 1979 … … … £575,000 December 1979 … … … £595,000 I expect to make further reductions in posts in 1980 following abolition of exchange control and other specific measures. Efforts to improve efficiency and reduce waste will continue.