Job losses threaten work on children bill

Job cuts at the Department for Education and Skills may run into
four figures adding to fears that work on the children’s bill may
be endangered.

Last week the government confirmed that between 600 and 800 posts
would be lost by 2006 at the department as part of a Treasury
efficiency review.

But an e-mail seen by Community Care sent to all DfES
staff by permanent secretary David Normington reveals that the
number of jobs going is likely to be higher.

He says: “I stress also that these job losses represent a minimum
figure and are likely to rise,” adding that the restructure “opens
a period of considerable uncertainty”.

It is not yet known which departments or grades will be affected
but it is likely the Children, Families and Young People
Directorate, which is responsible for the children’s green paper,
will be among those affected.

More details will be made available on changes post-2006 following
July’s spending review.