HC Deb 28 October 1965 vol 718 c323
1. Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase or decrease in staff there was in the Department under his control in the period 16th October 1964 to 15th October 1965; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th April 1966.

The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Anthony Crosland)

The answer to the first part of the question is an increase of 373, including 200 former staff of D.S.I.R. whose functions were transferred to my Department on 1st April, 1965. I shall shortly be discussing staffing for the year 1966–67 with the Treasury in accordance with normal procedure.

Mr. Onslow

Will the Minister tell the House why the increase of the last six months has been 30 more than he forecast in April this year?

Mr. Crosland

I think that the exact figure is 27 more, which seems to me to be miraculously close to the forecast which I made. The major reason why our staff has increased by this comparatively small amount, apart from D.S.I.R., is the fact that a number of fresh responsibilities have been put on the Department in the last year or so.