§ 30. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the trends in numbers employed in local government over the last 10 years.
§ Mr. HowardThe numbers employed in local government fell from a peak of 1,975,200 full-time equivalents in June 1979 to 1,887,200 full-time equivalents in June 1982. There followed a period of relative stability until June 1985. Since then every quarterly survey of the Joint Manpower Watch has shown a year-on-year increase. This increase accelerated and by June 1987 the numbers had risen to 1,923,500 full-time equivalents.
Control over staff numbers should be a routine part of good management in local government. There is certainly scope for substantial staff reductions in local government without any loss in the quality of the services provided.