asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she has been able to quantify the improvement in Civil Service efficiency since 1979.

Yes, wherever possible. Examples were given in the White Paper "Efficiency in the Civil Service"—Cmnd. 8293—and, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on January 28—[Vol. 16, c. 400]—savings from firm decisions on the programme of scrutinies introduced by Sir Derek Rayner have so far amounted to £130 million a year and £28 million once-for-all. We are also particularly concerned to remove underlying obstacles to efficiency by means of the programme of lasting reforms.