§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will specify the type of duties, other than professional and technical staff in the PSA, which required an increase in non-industrial staff from 44,638 on 1st July 1975 to 45,973 on 1st October and in industrial staff from 26,630 to 26,891 in the same period; and why the PSA is increasing its recruitment of professional and technical staff at this time.
§ Mr. ArmstrongAdditional staff were recruited to fill vacancies in many parts of the Department. The main recruitment of administration grades was to provide for the continued transfer of work on driver and vehicle licensing from local authorities, the replacement of agency typing staff and to deal with the increased number of driving test applications. Industrial staff numbers increased as a result of recruitment of school leavers to craft apprenticeships and the filling of vacancies for work maintenance staff. Recruitment of professional and technical staff in PSA is mainly to replace wastage.