§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many persons are employed to operate the import surveillance licensing scheme; and what are their posts and grades;
(2) what is the cost to date of the import surveillance licensing scheme; and what is the estimated annual cost of the scheme.
§ Mr. Meacher38 Import Licensing Branch staff, comprising one higher executive officer, five executive officers, 25 clerical officers and seven clerical assistants, are employed in operating the surveillance import licensing scheme for textiles consigned to the United Kingdom from non-EEC sources. Their current annual cost, calculated on the basic staff692W cost plus accommodation, is about £207,000, and on the same basis the cost up to 31st January 1977 was some £320,000. These figures do not take into account costs incurred by other Departments, such as the Department of Industry, which is associated with the scheme, and Customs and Excise.