HC Deb 23 May 1980 vol 985 cc417-8W
Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Deparment what was the staff establishment of his Department on 1 April 1979 and on 1 April of the current year; and what was the shortfall on these figures, if any, and the grades and geographical regions where the shortfall occurred.

Mr. Whitelaw

The numbers of staff in post on 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1980 were 33,490 and 34,095 respectively. These compare with 34,728 and 34,726, which represents the numbers of staff expected to be in post on those dates, as published in the Supply Estimates for 1979–80 and 1980–81. Both figures exclude police, fire and probation officers on loan to the Department. I shall write to the hon. Member with the more detailed information that he requests as soon as possible.