§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry by how much the Design Council has overspent or underspent its budget since its formation.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallInformation on deviations in expenditure by the Design Council from financial provision made in parliamentary Estimates—including Supplementary Estimates—since its formation in 1944 could he provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the cost to public funds of the Design Council in the current year; and whether he is satisfied that its current expenditure is in line with its budget.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe current estimate of the Department's grant-in-aid for 1980–81 is £3,453,500. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that its current expenditure is in line with its budget.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what checks he makes on how the public funds granted to the Design Council are spent.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe council's accounts are examined annually by the Exchequer and Audit Department. In addition, financial statements are provided quarterly to the Department.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the rateable values of offices and premises occupied by the Design Council.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe rateable values of offices and premises occupied by the Design Council throughout the United Kingdom are £210,495 in total.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what sum has been spent by the Design Council on advertising for and recruitment of staff since May 1979;
(2) what sum has been spent on publicity and advertising by the Design Council since May 1979.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe information is not readily available for the period requested. In the financial year 1979–80 the Design Council spent £31,652 on advertising for and recruitment of staff, and incurred a net expenditure of £57,400 on publicity and advertising.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what proportion of the total costs of the Design Council is met by public funds in the current year; and how this compares with the position in each year since its formation;
(2) what has been the total cost to pubic funds of the Design Council since its formation.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallI regret that it is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to provide details covering the past 36 years.
125WInformation estimated for the current year and for the two previous years is as follows:
(a) (b) (c) Year Grant in Aid £ million Proportion of (b) to total cost 1980–81 3.454 61.1 per cent. 1979–80 2.811 58.1 per cent. 1978–79 2.437 56.7 per cent.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total number of staff currently employed by the Design Council; and how this compares with the position in each year since its formation.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThe information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The numbers employed on or about 1 October 1978, 1979 and 1980 were 332½, 317½ and 287 respectively—part-time employees being counted as ½.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what reduction there has been in the cost to public funds of the Design Council since May 1979.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallThere has been no reduction in the cost to public funds of the Design Council since May 1979 apart from the 3 per cent. saving in the pay component of the cash limit for 1979–80 as announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department on 22 May 1979.—[Vol. 967, c. 77.]
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what economies are to be made in the expenditure of the Design Council in the next financial year.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallAs announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 December the Design Council is aiming to increase its income from the services which it provides. The level of grant-in-aid in 1981–82 has not yet been finalised.