HC Deb 04 June 1980 vol 985 cc707-8W
Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if any of the 280 staff savings in his Department, the 140 in the Central Office of Information and the 900 in Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 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. Channon

The announcement on 6 December 1979 referred to the manpower reductions exercise which the Government set in hand shortly after coming into office. The announcement was a report on the progress that had been made up to that point, and said that the search for greater economy and efficiency would go on throughout the lifetime of this Parliament. Since then, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 13 May—[Vol. 984, c. 1050]—that the Government had decided to reduce the size of the Civil Service to around 630,000 by 1 April 1984. All Ministers are now engaged in drawing up detailed plans to achieve this objective, to which the original manpower reductions exercise, and the further cuts of 2½ per cent, in 1980–81 announced on 14 March, will make important contributions.

With regard to the original manpower reductions exercise, the position of the on; and if he will distinguish between manual and non-manual households.

Mr. Jim Lester

[pursuant to his reply, 2 June 1980, c. 435]: Following is the information, which is available from the 1978 family expenditure survey.

Central Office of Information, Civil Service Department and Her Majesty's Stationery Office is as follows: Central Office of Information Of the 140 Central Office of Information posts referred to, nearly half have now been saved. Half of the remaining savings are to be achieved by April 1981 and the rest by March 1982. The posts still to be saved, except for two posts in the East Midlands region, and one each in the Northern, North Western and West Midlands regions, are all in London. They comprise 21 information and other specialist grade posts, four industrial posts, and 49 administration and support services posts. Civil Service Department Of the 280 Civil Service Department posts referred to in the question, 22 have so far been given up. A saving of a further 45 posts will take place in 1980–81. At this stage, it is anticipated that, during 1981–82 at least a further 28 posts will be relinquished, and the balance thereafter. The majority of the savings will be in the South East region and will relate to some 18 different grades from typist to assistant secretary. Her Majesty's Stationery Office Of the 900 projected savings in Her Majesty's Stationery Office staff, 150 have been already achieved and a further 150 will be saved in 1980–81. The remaining 600 will be saved by the end of March 1984, but I expect that the major part of the saving will be made during 1982–83. It is not at present possible to attribute these savings precisely to grades or locations. But they will mainly fall in London and Norwich.