§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the proven over-expenditure on the excessive number of highly paid persons employed in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, he will take steps to reduce these costs; and what reductions have already been made, in accordance with the Government's policy of cutting public expenditure.
§ Sir George YoungI do not accept that there is an excessive number of highly paid persons in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The Government's programme for reducing the size of the Civil Service provides for the staff of OPCS reducing from its current level of 2,641 to 2,130 by 1 April 1984.