§ Mr. David Nicholsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many under-secretaries, assistant secretaries and senior principals there were in post on the latest available date; and how many of each there were on the same date in 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985, respectively.
§ Mr. BrookeFrom 1 January 1984 under-secretary was designated as Grade 3 and unified Grades 5 and 6 were also introduced. Grade 5 comprises former assistant secretaries and their equivalents in the Science, Professional and Technology and other groups. Grade 6 includes Senior Principals and equivalents.
The information available for 1 January of each year is as follows:
Grade 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 3 625 587 511 490 489 5 2,228 2,182 2,032 2,021 2,108 6 3,095 3,763 3,484 3,376 3,734
§ Mr. David Nicholsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he would define the functions of (a) assistant secretary and (b) senior principal, as distinct from the functions of other grades in the Home Civil Service.
§ Mr. BrookeThe grades of assistant secretary and senior principal were incorporated into the unified grades 5 and 6 respectively on the extension of the Home Civil Service open structure on 1 January 1984.
The duties of grades 5 and 6 are described in grading guidance booklets issued by my Department, copies of which have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.