§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what objectives were set for the manpower watch for local government in 1979; what has been the actual and percentage fall in local government manpower since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyThe joint staffing watch, formerly joint manpower watch, was set up in 1975 as part of the 1974–75 rate support grant settlement. In describing the purpose of the new system, DOE circular 30/75 stated
The new arrangements … are intended to reinforce the severe restriction on the rate of growth in current expenditure by establishing the means of identifying at regular intervals fluctuations in the total numbers employed by local authorities. The aim is to establish machinery through which all parties to the Rate Support Grant settlement can jointly satisfy themselves that any increases in employment are consistent with national policies and priorities.Staff costs form a large proportion of local authority expenditure and the Government still consider it necessary to maintain a close watch on local authority staffing levels.
The fall in local government staffing from December 1979 to December 1990 has been 71,350 full-time equivalents, that is, 3.6 per cent.