§ Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of civil servants in his Department; and what was the total number in the equivalent Departments in 1964 and the percentage increase or decrease between the two dates.
§ Mr. BoothThe total number of civil servants in my Department excluding those in the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on 1st October 1975, was 18,910. In addition, 4,231 casual staff were employed on that date mainly on unemployment benefit work in local offices. The number on 1st October 1964 was 21,415. The latter figure includes staff who were engaged on functions currently being carried out by the Manpower Services Commission and its agencies, by the Health and Safety Executive and by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. The figures are not, therefore, comparable.