To ask Her Majesty's Government whether assessments are made of the net cost or saving to public funds of redundancies of staff in government departments before decisions are made on proposed redundancies. [HL2226]

Individual departments have delegated responsibility for staffing matters, subject to the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. Among other things, the code requires departments and agencies to consider all measures which might avoid or minimise the need for compulsory redundancy. In addition, the accounting officer (normally the Permanent Secretary or chief executive) has personal responsibility for ensuring that the resources entrusted to him or her by Parliament are used efficiently, economically and effectively. In the event of redundancy, the terms that departments may pay are set out in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.