§ Q9. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister to what extent the extra 20 staff taken on in his department during the past 44 months have been engaged on dealing with work connected with answering the increased number of Parliamentary Questions to his department since October 1964; and whether he will give figures showing the number of Parliamentary Questions tabled and answered orally or in writing for the 44 months to October 1964 compared with the 44 months from October 1964 until June 1968.
§ The Prime MinisterIn the 44 months from October 1964 until June 1968 I answered orally or in writing 3,994 Parliamentary Questions, compared with 2,221 Questions answered by my predecessors in the 44 months to October 1964. But it is not practicable to estimate how far the additional staff are attributable to this as against other aspects of the increased work-load in my office.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will give further details of the reasons for the increase in the staff employed in his department from 45 in 1964 to 65 in June 1968; who are the 20 additional staff; what positions they hold; and to what extent the salary 101W increase of £65,992 per annum in 1964 to £109,992 in 1968 is accounted for by these additional staff appointments.
§ The Prime MinisterThe additional appointments account for £2,625 of the month's salary increase of £4,000. On the reasons for the increase in staff I have nothing to add to the Answers which I gave to Questions by my hon. Friend earlier today and on the 25th July. As to personalities I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to a Question by him on the 10th November, 1967.