United Kingdom Public Service unions are bracing for a new wave of job cuts after a Government call for “efficiency savings” from Departments.
The fear is that large numbers of jobs will be placed at risk.
MPs examining the Government’s future estate needs heard that a Cabinet Office update is expected soon after Departments and Agencies were required to submit proposals to save money.
Senior National Officer with the PCS union, Geoff Lewtas told Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that a clearer picture of the outcome of the exercise would emerge in the next few days.
Giving evidence to the committee last month, Minister for the Cabinet Office, Oliver Dowden indicated that last year’s proposals to slash the Public Service headcount by 91,000 was off the agenda,
However, Mr Lewtas (pictured) said there was little reassurance for Departmental staff about the magnitude of headcount reductions that may be required.
“There is still an intention to find large numbers of job roles being lost across the Civil Service generally, in most Departments I would guess, but we can’t put any more flesh on that position until we know,” Mr Lewtas said.
“What’s been happening over recent months is that towards the end of last year, all Departments were asked to give their views on plans for achieving efficiency savings and those reports were received by the Cabinet Office at around about the end of January.”
London, 23 February 2023
