§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any of the 460 staff savings in his Department announced on 6 December 1979 have yet been made; and, if not, when he expects them to be achieved and in what divisions, at what grades, and in which geographical regions.
§ Mr. WhitelawSeventy posts have already been saved. Proposals to achieve the remainder are currently the subject of consultations but I expect to achieve further savings amounting to about 150 posts by 1 April 1981 and the balance of 240 by 1 April 1982. Of the 390 staff savings still to be achieved, reductions are planned in all parts of the office with the exception of the Prison Service. About half the savings are expected to be made among administration group staff in grades ranging from assistant secretary to clerical assistant. Of the remainder, about 60 posts will be saved in the professional and technology and science categories and other technical grades: the balance will comprise research and tutorial staff, data processing staff and industrial and other grades.
Apart from proposed reductions of about 50 posts in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and the saving of 15 wireless technician posts, the location of which have yet to be determined, all the savings are expected to be in London and the South-East of England.