§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the cost to public funds in a full year of the small firms service;
(2) how many members of his Department are employed in the small firms service; and what the change in numbers employed there has been since its inception.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe central management of the small firms service employs 11 staff of the Department at headquarters and 45 staff in the small firms centres. At the inception of a nationwide service there were 10 staff employed at headquarters and 33 staff employed in the centres. The estimated total cost of the small firms service in the financial year 1979–80, is approximately £890,000.