§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much in salaries was paid to local government officials immediately prior to reorganisation, two months after reorganisation and at the last convenient date, respectively; and what numbers were employed on the same dates.
§ Mr. OakesThis information is not available but total expenditure on salaries and wages by local authorities in England and Wales in the financial years 1973–74 and 1974–75 was £4,386 million and £5,747 million (provisional), respectively. As regards the number of local government employees in England and Wales I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 17th October to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Speed)—[Vol. 897, c. 826]