asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the nature of the representations which he has received from trade unions about a proposal to reduce the directly employed labour force in his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from trade unions about a proposal to reduce the directly employed labour force in his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from trade unions about the proposal to reduce the directly employed labour force in his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the nature of the representations which he has received from trade unions about a proposal to reduce the directly employed labour force in his Department.

On 19 November my right hon. Friend and I met national officers of the trade unions whose members are employed by this Department. They were concerned because proposals to transfer work from direct labour to contractors wherever possible would not, in their view, result in any financial saving to the taxpayer and the proposed reductions were larger than the option cuts of 10 per cent, 15per cent or 20 per cent. being considered by the Government.