§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister what reduction there has been in the total numbers of local government employees in the United Kingdom; and if she is satisfied that sufficient progress is being made to implement the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce the levels of local government staff.
§ The Prime MinisterThe latest available figures are as follows: 23W
September 1979– September 1980 Per cent.* England –32,578 –1.7 Wales –3,846 –3.0 Scotland +2,170 +0.8 March 1979– March 1980 Per cent. Northern Ireland –191 –2.3 * All of these figures axe full-time equivalents, exclusive of staff employed under the Government's special temporary employment programme.
I am encouraged by the downward trend which has been generally established and I hope that the local authorities in Scotland will be able to follow the lead set elsewhere in the United Kingdom. However, the level of reduction overall is still not enough if the financial targets set by the Government are to be met.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is seeking appropriate powers to dissuade local authorities from incurring excessive or unreasonable expenditure.