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Written question asked by Emily Thornberry (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 November 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 November 2023. It was answered by Gareth Davies (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 November 2023 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury: Civil Servants

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference the 1,985 total headcount figure for permanent civil servants excluding agency workers working for his Department as of 31 March 2023, as detailed in Cabinet Office statistics entitled Permanent and temporary civil servants by sex, age band and department: 2023, published on 31 October 2023, what that figure was on 31 March (a) 2011, (b) 2016 and (c) 2020.

Answer

The headcount for HM Treasury as at the 31st March 2011, 31st March 2016, and 31st March 2020 can be found in the following ONS online locations.

- 31 March 2011- ONS Archives: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20150905000144mp_/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pse/public-sector-employment/q1-2011/stb-q1-2011.pdf

- 31 March 2016 – ONS Archives:- https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable/march2016/psereferencetablesmarch2016.xls

- 31 March 2020 – ONS Archives: https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable/march2020/datasets.xlsx

On 2 October 2023, The Chancellor announced an immediate cap on civil servant headcount across Whitehall to stop any further expansion, increase efficiencies and boost productivity.

The Civil Service grew in size to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the illegal war in the Ukraine but it is right that we reduce the size of the Civil Service over time as we drive up productivity and deliver efficiencies.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
740
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Civil servants Treasury
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk