§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many staff were employed by his Department in February 1974 and in October 1974; how many are employed at the present time; and what increase, if any, he expects for 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. DeakinsOn 1st April 1974, the first date for which information was collected following the creation of my Department, there were 7,071 staff in post, the corresponding numbers on 1st October 1974 and 1st October 1975 being 7,209 and 7,689 respectively. By 1st April 1976 staff in post are expected to total 7,766 with little change throughout the rest of the year.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade for what reasons any extra staff were recruited by his Department between February 1974 and the present; and for what reasons any extra staff will be recruited in the rest of 1975.
§ Mr. DeakinsExtra staff have been recruited since March 1974, when my Department was created, mainly in order612W to meet a temporary increase of work on the impending transfer of the Companies Registration Office to Cardiff; to undertake extra work in the Insolvency Service and on the surveillance monitoring of imports of textiles; to provide enhanced services to exporters; and to fill hitherto existing vacancies throughout the department. Any recruitment of extra staff during the rest of 1975 is likely to arise from the work of the Insolvency Service and the Companies Registration Office.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the number of unfilled vacancies in his Department, for which recruits are required but have not yet been found.
§ Mr DeakinsRecruits are currently required for 29 of the vacancies in the approved staffing establishment for my Department to 1st April next.