§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those posts in his Department in mid-1982 which were not in existence or filled in May 1979;
(2) if he will list those posts filled in his Department in May 1979 which are no longer in existence or no longer filled; and whether work previously undertaken in each such post is now (a) not done, (b) done in another Government or public Department or (c) done by private contractors.
§ Mr. HeseltineIt would be disproportionately time-consuming and expensive to provide answers to these questions. Within the overall reduction of 12,027 posts between May 1979 and July this year, there have been a great variety of changes in the number, job content and occupancy of posts in my Department, including the Property Services Agency. But comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested. The same is true of those posts whose functions are now either not performed or performed elsewhere.