§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what reduction in former Department of Energy personnel(a) has taken place and (b) is envisaged as a consequence of the incorporation of the former Department of Energy into his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe merger enabled the Department to reduce immediately the overhead costs of common functions and services and further rationalisations and savings continue to be made. These savings have been used to strengthen the Department's sponsorship of British industry through the creation of a number of sectoral divisions. No staff have been made redundant, although many are now doing different jobs within the Department and in response to the new priorities which Ministers have set.