§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total cost of administration of his Department expressed in constant prices in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information is not available because the Department of Trade and Industry was formed in 1983. However, the total costs of administration of the separate Departments of Trade and Industry expressed in 1982/83 prices for the last 4 years was:
Year Amount £m 1979–80 260.6 1980–81 291.8 1981–82 282.0 1982–83 276.5 This information is taken from the annual scrutinies of departmental running costs which only cover 1979–80 onwards. The costs for 1979–80 are not comparable because of certain changes in accounting.