HC Deb 27 March 1979 vol 965 cc117-8W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many operatives and how many other staff were employed by (a) all public authorities and (b) local authorities in Great Britain during 1978.

Mr. Armstrong

In October 1978, the public sector employed an estimated 224,000 construction operatives, and 111,000 administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff engaged on design, management and control of construction work which may be carried out either by direct labour or by contractors. Of these, local authorities employed 164,000 and 87,000 respectively.

I shall arrange for as much information as can be provided for county areas to be published in the Official Report as soon as possible. Data from the land accounts of individual local authorities are expected to be published later this year by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.