§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide figures for the reduction in numbers of posts as a result of contracting out since 1979 in his Department and agencies for which he has responsibility.
§ Mr. GoodladThere has been a reduction of some 60 posts in the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 1984 as a result of contracting out. To check the position back to 1979 would involve disproportionate cost.
Wilton Park has reduced its number of posts by six as a result of contracting out. Neither the Overseas Development Administration nor the Natural Resources Institute have reduced their number of posts as a result of contracting out.