§ Mr. Robert Sheldonasked the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the proportion of the reduction in the numbers of civil servants announced on 13 May which will be due to a reduction in the tasks expected from them.
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters in charge of Departments are now drawing up their plans for further reductions. As I explained in my statement to the House on 13 May, these will be obtained by concentrating on essential functions and making operations simpler and more efficient. It is too early to say what will be the respective proportions of savings arising from these two sources.