05 Feb THE number of civil servants working across Government has soared since the pandemic
THE number of civil servants working across Government has soared since the pandemic, new figures reveal.
According to newly obtained data, 349,969 civil servants are currently in post across 15 Government departments.
That’s up from 314,506 employed by the departments pre-Covid and equates to a rise of 11 per cent.
The figures were obtained following a probe by the Conservative MP Philip Davies, and form part of a GB News investigation.
Commenting on the rise Mr Davies said: “The civil service were very unsurprisingly very good at hiring extra staff during the pandemic but typically they’ve been very poor at shedding them when the pandemic was over.
“No wonder the PCS union were demanding job security for civil servants when they took industrial action this week.
“The government needs to start an efficiency drive in the civil service, and make sure these civil service numbers come down. The public are having to cut back during this cost of living crisis – it is time the Government did the same on behalf of taxpayers.”
According to the data obtained by Mr Davies, more than 350 civil servants are still working solely on matters relating to Covid-19. More than half of those – 185 – are working in the Department of Education.
Of the departments who handed over data, the Ministry of Justice had the most civil servants. They employ 88,713 – which has shot up from 76,441 before the pandemic. The next highest employers of civil servants were the Ministry of Defence who employ 59,953 and the Department for Transport who employ 48,561.
