Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the announcement on ending civil service expansion by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 2 October 2023, whether the cap on the civil service headcount will affect the recruitment of the (a) 400 fraud investigators announced in the Fraud Strategy 2023 and (b) 475 full-time equivalent staff for tackling money laundering and asset recovery announced in the Economic Crime Plan 2023-26.
Through the Spending Review and the new Economic Crime Levy we are providing additional funding to tackle Economic Crime of £400 million up to the end of 2024/25. The headcount cap announced by the Chancellor applies to the overall size of the Civil Service, excluding the devolved administrations. Policing, including Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) who are a major recipient of additional Economic Crime investment, are out of scope.
As part of the process, the Government will identify risks, and ensure this is implemented in a way which preserves frontline service delivery, business critical activity and key Government priorities. This is not a recruitment freeze, but rather about stopping unchecked growth overall and moving towards a leaner and more efficient Civil Service workforce.