HC Deb 16 December 1968 vol 775 cc302-3W
Mr. Biffen

asked 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 Lee

The annual cost of the National Economic Development 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.