§ 23. Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Admiralty research establishment at Teddington.
§ Mr. William RodgersAs was announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1975 (Chapter VII, paragraph 7), establishments engaged in marine technology are being considered along with others as part of the proposals for the second stage of rationalisa-
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 Total number 321,900 334,500 319,600 317,200 315,600 £m. £m. £m £m. £m. Actual cost at current prices 455 550 578 647 814 Because of changes in departmental organisation the figures are not directly comparable.
§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Defence by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.
§ Mr. William RodgersThere has been no increase but a fall.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total present establishment of the United Kingdom based non-industrial staff of his Department; and how this differs from the actual strength, by grades.
§ Mr. William RodgersIncluding the Royal ordnance factories the total establishment of United Kingdom based non-industrial staff is 140,400 and the total strength is 131,600. A detailed breakdown of strength by grades is not available.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas by staff of his Department during the financial year 1974–75; and what estimate has been made of the corresponding cost in the current financial year.
332Wtion of the defence R & D establishments. No decisions have yet been taken.