§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report, the total estimated running costs of his Department in each year since 1979; and whether such costs were incurred by spending on civil servants employed directly or by spending on external contractors.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe net estimated running costs of the Department including PSA in each financial year since 1979 are: 1979–80, £366 million; 1980–81, £439 million; 1981–82, £467 million. The costs of employing non-civil servants within these totals are: 1979–80, £41 million; 1980–81, £49 million; 1981–82, £58 million.