§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of Stale for Trade how many press and public relations officers are currently employed in his Department; what is the total cost; and what are the comparable figures for June 1970, October 1974, and May 1979.
§ Mr. EyreThe number and cost of information officer group staff in my Department's press office on these dates was as follows:
Number Cost £'000 1 October 1974 11 58 1 May 1979 16 151 1 February 1980 15 157 The figures for 1 October 1974 and 1 May 1979 include the staff in the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection which has since been absorbed in the Department of Trade. The Department did not exist in its present form in June 1970 and consequently a comparable figure is not available.