HC Deb 27 October 1980 vol 991 c22W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many district councils in Scotland have a direct labour organisation; how many are employed in total in Scotland; and what was the value of work they completed in the latest available year.

Mr. Rifkind:

The information requested is not currently collected by my Department. A survey carried out by the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland in 1979 indicates that 48 district councils then had a direct labour organisation. Details of numbers employed in these organisations were available from only 42 councils; the total so employed by these councils was 11,785. No estimate was made for the value of work completed.

The Scottish Local Government Manpower Watch, whose returns are compiled on a different basis, recorded 15,476 full-time equivalent staff employed by all local authorities on direct works in June 1980.