HC Deb 09 November 1977 vol 938 cc119-20W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total number of local government staff; and how the figure compares with each yearly total since 1970.

Mr. Guy Barnett:

The numbers of full- and part-time employees in local authorities in England and Wales. include- ing police, but excluding police civilians, traffic wardens, police cadets, agency, magistrates' courts and probation staffs, on 18th June 1977 were 2,555,000.

Comparable figures for each year since1970 were:

Mid June Thousands
1970 2162
1971 2234
1972 2340
1973 2454
1974 2443
1975 2556
1976 2574
1977 2555