To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants were employed in his Department before the Gershon report; what net reductions are proposed in the Gershon report; how many reductions have been made; and how many civil servants are expected to be employed in his Department in the Gershon target month of April 2008. (74286)

As set out in the Gershon Review the Department is planning to reduce staff numbers by a net 30,000 full-time equivalents by the agreed date of 31 March 2008 from a baseline of 132,550 as at 1 March 2004. As at 31 December 2005 the reduction achieved was 14,860.

Planned staffing in the Department at 31 March 2008 is 102,550 full-time equivalents.