§ Mr. Ripponasked the Prime Minister how many permanent secretaries, second permanent secretaries and under secretaries there were in the Civil Service in 1964; how many there are at present; and whether she has any plans for reducing their numbers.
§ The Prime MinisterThe earliest year for which figures are held centrally is 1965. The following table shows the number of posts in the grades specified at 1 April 1965, 1 April 1979 and 1 January 1982.
1 April 1965 1 April 1979 1 January 1982 Permanent Secretary *37 †26 ‡24 Second Permanent Secretary 15 15 Total 37 41 39 Under Secretary 399 623 552 * Separate figures for second permanent secretary are not available. † Includes permanent secretaries to Treasury and CSD and secretary of the Cabinet. ‡ Includes permanent secretary to Treasury and secretary of the Cabinet. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury, informed the House on 1 December last, following the publication of the report by Sir Geoffrey Wardale all Government Departments have been asked to undertake a rigorous assessment of their senior Civil Service posts. These reviews are now nearly complete and decisions will be taken after Departments' proposals have been examined.