§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what legislative or policy factors he attributes the increase in non-industrial staff in his Department from 14,328 on 1st March 1974 to 14,709 on 1st July 1975.
§ Mr. PeartThe main new statutory tasks falling on my Department during this period have been in connection with food subsidies and farm safety. But most of the net increase of 330 staff was due to easier recruitment, making it possible to fill some of the existing vacancies.
Staff of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce are also included in the figures quoted by the hon. Member; the increase of 51 over the period was due to increased work arising from the operation of the common agricultural policy.