§ 17. Mr. SwireTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Sir Peter Gershon regarding the total savings in public sector employment within the Department for Transport as a result of his efficiency review. [164997]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Department for Transport is working closely with Sir Peter Gershon and other key stakeholders to develop efficiency proposals for consideration in the 2004 Spending Review. Details of all departments' agreed efficiency programmes will be published alongside the Spending Review.
§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in implementing the interim proposals of the Gershon Review since his announcement in the Budget. [165018]
§ Mr. BoatengI can now give more details of the specifics of reductions at Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.
Of the 14,000 job reductions by 2007–08 in the new tax department, 8,000 will be made by Inland Revenue, 3,000 by HM Customs and Excise and 3,000 will result from the merger.
Ministers have met all the relevant trades unions. And yesterday the Chancellor met the TUC general council.
As the Chancellor announced, following the Lyons review, of the 27,000 public sector jobs to be moved out of London and the south east, 7,000 will not be replaced.