HC Deb 12 November 1980 vol 992 c203W
25. Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the current rate of reduction in the numbers of staff employed by local authorities.

Mr. Heseltine

The Joint Manpower Watch figures at June 1980 showed that a larger annual and (seasonally adjusted) quarterly reduction had been achieved than ever before. But I believe that local authorities will need to reduce their manpower at an even faster rate if they are to meet the Government's expenditure targets.