§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current staffing complement of that branch of his Department which monitors (a) pay settlements and (b) examines whether approved productivity deals have, in fact, subsequently resulted in increased productivity; and what is the current annual administrative cost of this department, including provision for salaries, pensions and overheads.
§ Mr. Harold Walker:Apart from the public sector, which is primarily the 143W responsibility of the sponsoring Departments, my Department at 1st November employed 82 staff who are mainly concerned with giving advice on the application of the pay guidelines to particular negotiations and with monitoring settlements in the private sector including the observance of the requirements for self-financing productivity schemes. This involves a total cost, at an annual rate, of £1,145,000.