HC Deb 02 June 1980 vol 985 cc567-8W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received concerning the extension have since become vacant. Providing the information on a geographical basis would be equally difficult as the Department's regionalised functions do not share common boundaries.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister of Transport if any of the 2,480 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. Fowler

The savings of 18 per cent. in staff costs to be made by my Department as a contribution to the manpower reductions announced in the House on 6 December last are to be phased over the three-year period 1980–81 to 1982–83. A proportion of these savings has already been made. I expect the remainder to be made within the three-year period. The process of identification of all those posts that are still to be saved is bound to take time, however, and it is too early to specify with any precision the divisions and grades concerned, and the geographical location of the reductions.