asked the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 27 November concerning reductions in the numbers of civil servants, how he intends to make the reductions he outlined in his Department; and what criteria he will use.

The CSD will make the necessary reductions by natural wastage so far as possible. Should compulsory redundancy become unavoidable, the processes already agreed with the unions will be closely observed.