§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistical results have emerged so far from his local authority "staff watch" exercise; and to what purpose he intends to put the information he has received
§ Mr. John SilkinThe figures for June, relating to total employment by local authorities in England and Wales, showed an increase of 10,785–0.70 per cent—full-time and 15,231–1.69 per cent.—part-time employees over the figures for the March quarter. Only two returns have so far been made, however, and it is too soon to detect any trend in the figures which are likely to have been affected by a number of factors including seasonal fluctuations. The joint manpower watch is not intended to regulate numbers; that is the responsibility of individual authorities. Its aim is to alert both local government and the Government to changes in total numbers, and thus to provide a background against which to examine the reasons for increases in manpower.