asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the manpower savings that have already been made in his Department; and if he will provide an estimate of the further savings which he intends to make during the forthcoming year.

In the four Departments for which I am responsible—the Civil Service Department—including the Civil Service Catering Organisation, the Central Office of Information, Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Government Actuary's Department—there was a reduction of 444 staff in post between 1 May 1979 and 1 March 1980, the latest date for which figures are available.In my statement to the House on 6 December last—[Vol. 974, c. 627–40]—I listed the manpower savings that will be made in my Departments by the financial year 1982–83. Some of these savings will be achieved during the forthcoming year.I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 14 March—[Vol. and in which case, the analogue for particular Civil Service grades changes from those established in the 1979 study.

I refer the right hon. Member to my answer today to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Bendall). The particular figures requested are as follows:980, c. 748]—on Civil Service pay and cash limits. A further reduction of 2½ per cent. in 1980–81 manpower costs will be made and officials are at present working out its effect.