HC Deb 08 May 1975 vol 891 cc484-5W
Mr. Stallard

asked the Attorney-General how many people die intestate each year; how many are involved in probate; and if he will take steps to inform the public of the need to make a will.

The Attorney-General

The number of people who have died intestate each year is not known since a grant of letter of administration is not always sought. Grants of probate and of letters of administration were made as follows in the last three years:

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The material is being collated and I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Gow

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total annual cost of the salaries of all civil servants employed in the United Kingdom on the latest available date, and on the same date in each of the preceding 10 years; and to what extent the annual costs are not comparable.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The information available centrally and given below relates to the provision in the Estimates for the salary and other related costs of all United Kingdom-based civil servants whether serving in the United Kingdom or abroad.

Financial Year £'000
1965–66 638,365
1966–67 674,842
1967–68 699,351
1968–69 742,635
1969–70 809,359
1970–71 879,243
1971–72 977,837
1972–73 1,339,817
1973–74 1,481,978
1974–75 1,628,571
1975–76 2,022,331

Note on Comparability of Figures

From 1972–73 provision for overtime, employer's national insurance and superannuation charges, is included.

Mr. Gow

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what is the total annual cost of the salaries of all civil servants

Department 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71
Defence 98,880 99,453 95,077 83,471 76,238 68,953
Environment* (including Property Services Agency) 23,811 25,128 23,770 18,730 19,309 17,128
Foreign and Commonwealth and Overseas Development 7,960 8,613 8,801 8,902 8,769 8,461
Others 293 315 252 240 267 235
Total Numbers 130,944 133,509 127,900 111,343 104,583 94,777
Total Cost £'000 63,028 66,876 65,760 71,175 71,029 72,283

Department 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76
Defence 62,270 46,199 47,839 47,314 50,128
Environment* (including Property Services Agency) 14,740 14,042 13,729 12,978 9,354
Foreign and Commonwealth and Overseas Development 8,335 8,238 8,101 8,271 8,321
Others 217 148 137 131 130
Total Numbers 85,562 68,627 69,806 68,694 67,933
Total Cost £'000 73,116 76,183 83,370 119,854 147,342
* From 1965–66 to 1970–71 the figures are the combined figures for Ministries of Housing and Local Government, Public Building and Works, and Transport.