Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the staff in his Department is located in the assisted areas; and how this compares with the situation when the present Administration came into office.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe total number of staff in the Department at 1st October 1972 was 18,610. Of these 4,631 or 24.9 per cent. were located in assisted areas. Comparable figures for April 1970, after making adjustments for the transfer of various functions out of the Department, were 18,972 of whom 4,282, or 22.6 per cent., were located in assisted areas.