§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will compare the numbers of public servants employed at Stormont and in that part of the Home Office concerned with Northern Ireland at the time of the Prorogation of the Northern Ireland 372W Parliament with the numbers now employed at Stormont and in the Northern Ireland Office.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesAt the time of the Prorogation of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1972 there were approximately 18,000 Northern Ireland civil servants and United Kingdom civil servants employed in Northern Ireland Departments and in that part of the Home Office which was concerned with Northern Ireland. At the present time some 32,000 Northern Ireland civil servants and United Kingdom civil servants are employed in Northern Ireland Departments and in the Northern Ireland Office.
There have since 1972 been significant changes in the form of Government in Northern Ireland, especially the reorganisation of local government, which has transferred substantial numbers of staff to Northern Ireland Departments.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many United Kingdom civil servants were working in Northern Ireland in 1973, 1974, and the first three months of 1975, respectively.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisI have been asked to reply.
There were approximately 3,700 non-industrial civil servants in post in Northern Ireland on 1st January 1973 and approximately 3,900 on 1st January 1974. Corresponding information for 1975 is not yet available. Comparable information about industrial civil servants is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.