Departmental Staff

HC Deb 19 January 1976 vol 903 cc332-3W

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of, and number of people employed in his Department in 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

Mr. William Rodgers

The total cost and average number of civilians employed in the Ministry of Defence at home and overseas including the Royal ordnance factories, in the years 1970–71 to 1974–75 is as follows:

Mr. William Rodgers

The cost to public funds of travel by civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence including fares, motor mileage and other associated allowances within the United Kingdom and overseas during the financial year 1974–75 was approximately £14.5 million and £3.1 million respectively. The estimate of the corresponding cost in the current financial year is approximately £19 million and £42.million.

Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the non-industrial staff of his Department have been on training courses during the past 12 months; and at what cost to public funds.

Mr. William Rodgers

Statistics are collected annually in August. In the year ending 31st July 1975, 46,349 non-industrial civilians attended training courses held within the Department or at the Civil Service College, and 12,181 attended external courses. Costs are not separately recorded.

Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average annual wastage from the staff of his Department over the past five years; and how much of this has been attributable to retirement, resignations and illness, respectively.

Mr. William Rodgers

Due to organisational changes in the Ministry of Defence it has not been possible to obtain figures over five years. But the average annual wastage of non-industrial staff in the Ministry of Defence over the past four years has been 11,550, which is approximately 9 per cent. of strength. Of this total, 50 per cent. can be attributed to resignations, 25 per cent. to retirements at or above the minimum age and 3.5 per cent. to ill health.

Wastage figures for industrial staff are maintained at local level and cannot be obtained without disproportionate effort.