§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the costs of the smaller firms services, by region, for each of the years 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and the estimated costs in 1981–82.
§ Mr. MacGregorI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many part-time counsellors the small firms service employed in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe part-time counsellors of the small firms service are not employees of the Department but are self-employed contractors engaged to supply advisory services to the Department. During the course of a year the numbers fluctuate slightly. At the end of each year the number of counsellors engaged on contract to the Department was as follows:190W
Number 1976 22 1977 35 1978 125 1979 110 1980 124 The number of counsellors currently engaged is 135.