HC Deb 05 November 1975 vol 899 cc222-3W
Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many unfilled vacancies there are in his Department.

Mr. Crosland

1,699.

Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff were employed by his Department in March 1974; how many are employed now; and what increase, if any, he expects for the rest of this year and 1976.

Mr. Crosland

Excluding the Property Services Agency, there were 24,960 staff in post in March 1974; there are 28,014 now; and the increase up to the end of 1976 is expected to be 2,665. This expected increase is mainly to cater for the transfer of licensing and registration work from local authorities to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Directorate based at Swansea.

Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public relations officers were employed by his Department in March 1974; how many are employed now; whether he expects to recruit any more during the rest of 1975 and 1976; and what are the salaries of those he has recruited and expects to recruit.

Mr. Crosland

There were 89 information officers employed in March 1974 and there are 94 now. Recruitment will be confined to filling vacancies as they arise during 1976–77. The current salary scales are:

Chief Information Officer (A): £8,650–£11,000

Chief Information Officer (B): £7,750–£9,350

Principal Information Officer: £5,680–£7,450

Senior Information Officer: £4,900–£5,900

Information Officer: £3,900–£4,700

Assistant Information Officer: £1,885–£3,670.

Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons any extra staff were recruited between March 1974 and the present time; and for what reasons any extra staff will be recruited for the rest of this year and 1976.

Mr. Crosland

To enable the Department to discharge its functions effectively, staff levels have increased since March 1974. Further staff will be required during 1976. The work on driver and vehicle licensing, which is based at Swansea, accounts for the majority of the extra staff; this work is being transferred from local authorities.