§ Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistical surveys he now undertakes of the output and employment of local authority direct labour departments; and what the findings of the most recent survey both nation-wide and on an authority-by-authority basis.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Department conducts a quarterly inquiry into the number of operatives directly employed by local authorities to carry out building, civil engineering or associated work and the value of their output.
Provisional results for this inquiry for the first quarter of 1982 compared with the same period a year ago are as follows: 179W
Total output Number of operatives Current prices Constant {1975) prices £ million £ million thousands 1982 1st quarter 528 213 141 1981 1st quarter 507 224 151 National figures for these series for 1980 and earlier are available in Housing and Construction Statistics 1970–1980, tables 45 and 46.
I shall write to the hon. Member giving corresponding details for individual local authorities, and will place a copy in the Library.