§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for 1979, 1984 and the most recent year the numbers of staff by grade in the statistical divisions in his Department; and if he will differentiate between staff in the statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information requested is as follows:
1 April 1979 1 April 1984 1 April 1988 Chief statistician 2 2 2 Statistician 8 8 10 Senior assistant statistician 6 2 6 Assistant statistician 2 2 3 Support staff 198½ 131 114½ These figures are prepared on a different basis from those in a White Paper "Government Statistical Services" Cmnd. 8236 of 1981 which covered staff outside statistics divisions engaged in statistical work.