§ Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the Severn-Trent Water Authority on 1st September 1975 and 1st January 1976; how many more jobs will be filled when the authority is fully manned; and what the costs will be of salaries and pay on the respective dates.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI am informed by the Authority that on 1st September 1975 it employed 10,451 people, including 391 on a part-time basis. On 1st January 1976 the total was 10,555, including 408 part-time employees. The cost of salaries and pay, in a full year, was respectively £34 million and £35 million. The latter figure takes account of the 1975 pay award to manual workers which was not included in the earlier figure.
The Authority estimates that, before reorganisation of the water industry, approximately 11,000 full-time employees were engaged on the duties for which they are now responsible.
The Authority tells me that it is not possible to make any firm manpower forecasts for 1976–77 and thereafter, but it has recently resolved to contain recruitment as far as practicable and further appointments will only be made where a special need can be demonstrated.