§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the current staffing establishment of her Department; and how many officials are in each grade.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe staffing establishment of my Department has not been finally settled, but there are currently 258 staff in post. This total does not include the staffs of the Metrication Board, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Office of Fair Trading and the Price Commission. The number of staff in my Department in each grade is as follows:
Permanent Secretary 1 Deputy Secretary 2 Under Secretary 4 Assistant Secretary 9 Adviser Consumer Affairs 1 Special Adviser* 2 Principal 25 Senior Executive Officer 7 Higher Executive Officer (A) 2 Higher Executive Officer 29 Administration Trainee 6 Executive Officer 40 Clerical Officer 42 Clerical Assistant 20 Senior Personal Secretary 5 Personal Secretary 16 Paperkeeper 1 Deputy Chief Scientific Officer 2 Senior Principal Scientific Officer 4 Principal Scientific Officer 6 Senior Scientific Officer 2 Agricultural Economist 1 Controller, Standards, Weights and Measures 1 Director Engineer 'B' 1 Assistant Director Engineer 1 Principal Professional and Technology Officer 3 Professional and Technology Officer I 3 Professional and Technology Officer II 6 Technology Officer B 1 Examiner (Main Grade) 4 Examiner (Basic Grade) 2 Senior Assizer 1 Assizer 4 Instrument Cleaner 2 Telephonist 2 258 * One full-time and two part-time.