§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual cost of the National Economic Development Council including the Economic Development Committees, since its creation, the number of full-and part-time civil servants employed each year, and estimates of costs and personnel for 1968–69 and 1969–70.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeThe annual cost of the National Economic Development 303W Office since its establishment has been as follows:
£ 1961–62 … 5,000 1962–63 … 105,000 1963–64 … 159,000 1964–65 … 206,000 1965–66 … 252,000 1966–67 … 429,000 1967–68 … 602,000 1968–69 … 722,000 (estimate) The numbers of full-and part-time employees, including those seconded from industry, as at 1st April in the years 1962–68 were as follows:
Full-time Part-time 1962 … 20 Nil 1963 … 86 7 1964 … 99 7 1965 … 101 5 1966 … 126 8 1967 … 145 3 1968 … 171 10 Details of costs and staff for 1969–70 will not be available until the Estimates are published in February.