Press and Public Relations Officers

HC Deb 18 February 1980 vol 979 cc38-9W

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press and public relations officers are currently employed in his Department: what is the total cost; and what are the comparable figures for June 1970, October 1974, and May 1979.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

The number and cost of information officer group staff on these dates in the Northern Ireland Office and the eight Northern Ireland Departments for which I am responsible, was as follows:

	Number	Cost
		£
1 October 1974	25	168,000
1 May 1979	25	229,000
1 February 1980	25	251,000

The Northern Ireland Office was established on 1 April 1972, and there are no comparable figures for 1 June 1970.