Cost-cutting plans could see 6,000 civil service jobs axed
UK GOVERNMENT plans to axe 91,000 civil servants to save money could see 6,000 people lose their jobs in Wales.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said he fears there will be a disproportionate number of job cuts here.
In response to questions from Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price in plenary, Mr Drakeford said previous comments that the DVLA or Passport Office, both with strong bases in Wales, could face privatisation could mean Wales is further negatively affected.
Mr Drakeford was asked whether the Welsh Government had been informed about the plan.
He said: “The last time I had a discussion with any UK minister about civil service jobs, it was to hear that minister trumpet the intentions of the UK Government to disperse civil service jobs around the country and to bring more employment to Wales and other places outside London.
“What a different story this turns out to be in reality. Eighty per cent of civil service jobs in Wales are jobs that lie outside the Welsh Government and Adam Price is absolutely right – if we were to take even a proportionate count of the Prime Minister’s 91,000 we’d have 6,000 fewer jobs here in Wales.
“The fear is we will take a disproportionately higher number of job cuts here in Wales because, faced with difficulties of their own making, the UK Conservative Government reaches immediately, in a knee-jerk way, for the sort of solutions they’ve tried elsewhere and failed and threatens some of those agencies full of very hardworking people who did so much during the pandemic to continue to provide a public service and threatens them with privatisation.
“You can be sure that we will be communicating directly to ministers that if they go ahead with that scheme, and I see many Tory MPS saying that they don’t believe this will ever happen, if they decide Wales is to be the testbed for it then they will find a strong opponent here in the Welsh Government and certainly if they will think we will take a disproportionate share of jobs how much that will fly in the face of any claims this Government makes about levelling up parts of the country outside the south-east of England.”
There has been talk of a civil service strike after the plans were announced. Trade industry website Civil Service World said industrial action will be on the table at PCS’ national conference next week, while its general secretary Mark Serwotka released a statement pledging to “fight for every job in the civil service”.
“Our members, the heroes praised by the Government for risking their lives keeping the country running during the pandemic, are now being told their jobs are at risk,” he said.
“Making cuts will only make things worse – make waiting lists longer for those seeking passports and driving licences, make telephone queues longer for those with tax inquiries.”
The last time I had a discussion with any UK minister about civil service jobs, it was to hear that minister trumpet the intentions of the UK Government to disperse civil service jobs around the country and to bring more employment to Wales and other places outside London First Minister Mark Drakeford