§ Q10. Mr. Ovendenasked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an additional economic analyst to the Central Policy Review Staff.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Prime Minister what is the current staffing establishment of the Central Policy Review Staff; and how many of the staff are in each Civil Service grade.
§ The Prime MinisterThere are 31 staff in the following grades:—
255W
Permanent Secretary 1 Deputy Secretary 1 Under Secretary 1 Assistant Secretaries or equivalent 6 Principals or equivalent 8
Supporting Staff Higher Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer 1 Clerical Officers 2 Senior Personal Secretary 1 Personal Secretaries 9 31
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Prime Minister how many members of the Central Policy Review Staff have been with the unit for (a) less than 12 months, (b) from one to two years, (c) over two years and (d) since the formation of the unit; and what is his general policy regarding the average length of time which an official should serve in the CPRS.
§ The Prime MinisterCPRS staff (excluding supporting staff) have served with the Unit for the following periods:
- (a) Less than 2 months—six staff.
- (b) One to two years—six staff.
- (c) Over two years—five staff, of whom three have served since the formation of the Unit.
The normal minimum period of service is two years, and there are flexible arrangements for longer periods of service, depending on work needs and individual circumstances.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Prime Minister what is the present annual cost to public funds of the Central Policy Review Staff, including provision for salaries and administrative overheads.
§ The Prime MinisterThe current annual cost is £352,000.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Prime Minister how many persons who have served in the Central Policy Review Staff since its inception were freshly recruited to the Civil Service for those duties; and how many such recruits are (a) still with the CPRS, (b) now elsewhere in the Civil Service and (c) no longer in the Civil Service.
§ The Prime Minister19 persons have been recruited directly to the Central Policy Review Staff from outside the Civil Service. Of these nine are still with the CPRS, one is now elsewhere in the Civil Service and nine are no longer in the Civil Service.