§ 56 and 57. Colonel Sir T. Beamishasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total estimated annual cost to the taxpayer of the 122 additional public relations and Press officers appointed to Government Departments, excluding the Post Office, since September, 1964, on the criteria laid down in reply to a Question on 7th March, 1966, and of their subsidiary staff, including the cost of pay, pensions, gratuities and National Insurance, likely expense claims, and accommodation and ancillary services;
(2) if he will give the approximate cost in 1968 of the 122 additional public relations and Press officers appointed in Government Departments, excluding the Post Office, since September, 1964, showing separately, pay, likely expense claims. pensions, gratuities and National Insurance, and accommodation and ancillary services.
§ Mr. Harold LeverThe figure 122 quoted is for all Information Officer Staff and equivalents in Departments' Information Branches. Twenty-two of them are in the Post Office.
Pay of the 122 staff is estimated at £250,000; that of subsidiary staff at £103,000; total pensions gratuities and national insurance costs at £97,000; and the cost of accommodation and ancillary services at £103,000. The total cost is estimated at £553,00; if the Post Office staff are excluded, £466,000.
§ 58. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the dispersal of Government Departments and their adjuncts to the regions and development areas of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Harold LeverYes. Since the Flemming Report in May, 1963, over 9,000 Government jobs have been moved from London and the South-East, and a further 18,000 will be moved over the next few years. Of these 27,000, 13,000 will go to Scotland, Wales and the English Development Areas. The same policy is applied to offices required for new Government work and over the last two and the next few years this will have produced84W some 15,000 additional jobs in Scotland, Wales and the English Development Areas.
§ 68 Mr. Gregoryasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total usage by Government Departments of non-wool textiles is represented by imports as against domestic production.
§ Mr. Harold LeverAbout 12½ per cent. of the non-wool fabrics purchased in 1966 by Government Departments consisted of cloth woven abroad.
§ 69. Mr. Gregoryasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will establish co-ordinating machinery for supplies and purchases for each Government Department with a view to ensuring variety and quality control.
§ Mr. Harold LeverThe Government appreciates the importance of co-operation betwen Departments in order to concentrate their purchasing on a limited range of good quality products. Much has been done in this direction already, but we are constantly seeking further improvement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which new Government offices or agencies have been sited in Scotland since October 1964, the decisions for which to establish them in Scotland were made prior to October 1964; and how many jobs were involved.
§ Mr. Harold LeverOf the projects considered in the context of dispersal and regional development policies, the Post Office Savings Bank at Glasgow which will build up from its present employment of 1,100 to a total of 5,500 by 1976 and the Inland Revenue Schedule E centre at East Kilbride which will begin to operate next year and will employ 1,300 people by 1970.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Chief Secretary's negotiations with the Confederation of British Industry on the question of the need for Government Departments to obtain equality of information with contractors.
§ Mr. DiamondI have nothing to add to the Prime Minister's reply given today to my hon. Friend.