HC Deb 01 April 2004 vol 419 cc1639-40W
Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has conducted into the effects of his Department's planned redundancies and redeployment of staff over the next four years; if he will place copies in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [163295]

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in achieving a gross reduction of 40,000 civil servants in his Department since the Budget. [165020]

Maria Eagle

The Department has been developing plans for a reduction of up to 18,000 posts since 2002. This is now part of a four-year plan to reduce the number of posts by 30,000. This will reflect the new business model being rolled-out in Jobcentre Plus including more front-line staff conducting work-focused interviews; a Pension Transformation Programme and reductions in staffing in The Pension Service; the introduction of Child Support reform; and savings in "back office" functions in HR, finance and IT support.

The detail of how reductions will be allocated and profiled between businesses and corporate services will be developed in the normal way through our business planning processes and in discussion with the trade unions. We will provide further detail after the Spending Review settlement.