§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of staff of the regional economic planning councils and the regional economic planning boards at the latest convenient date and at the same date two years ago; and what was the total salary bill at both dates.
§ Mr. CroslandThe staff of the eight regional economic planning councils and boards are civil servants representing the 693W major departments in the area and are only part-time on this work. The Department of the Environment provides a secretariat and support service, averaging about 10 staff, part-time, in each planning region, and which for this work in 197374 cost about £125,000 and currently costs about £200,000 per annum.