§ Mr. Bill MichieTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants are currently employed(a) full time and (b) part time by his Ministry on civil defence; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties were in 1989–90; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties are expected to be in 1990–91; and whether he has any plans for these staff to be transferred to work on other duties.
§ Mr. CurryThe number of man years allocated to civil defence work in the Department, including maintenance of the strategic food stockpile, was 55 in 1989–90 and cost £1–5 million. In 1990–91 the number of man years is expected to be 47 and the cost £1–3 million.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced on 16 October that he had initiated a review of the options for the future of civil defence arrangements and future levels of expenditure will depend on the outcome of that review.