Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026, HC484, 15 July 2026, page 95, for what reason 400 external appointments were made, in the context of the 253 voluntary redundancies; and whether any staff were hired in business units where voluntary exits took place.

MHCLG’s Voluntary Exit Scheme (which differs from a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme) was designed both to deliver savings and enable the department to reshape its skills profile where necessary and improve capability and delivery.

As per the published accounts, the department’s civil servant workforce reduced to 3,756 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, a net decrease of 155 FTE over the year by the end of 2025-26.

Recruitment was undertaken in some business areas that also approved staff for release under the Voluntary Exit Scheme during 2025-26 bringing in skills and also to replace critical roles lost through turnover. At the same time, the Department also took on responsibility for Fire Policy via a Machinery of Government change completed in July 2025.

By the end of 2025–26, the department’s civil servant workforce had reduced to 3,756 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, a net decrease of 155 FTE over the year.