§ Mr. Lathamasked the Prime Minister whether she will set out in tabular form for each year since 1972 the number of staff in post in the Prime Minister's Office; and what was the annual cost of the office including provision for pensions and administrative overheads in each year, expressed at constant prices.
§ The Prime MinisterThe full information requested is shown below from and including the financial year 1976–77. Before that date, however, comparable information on costs of the Prime Minister's Office was not identified separately in the accounting records and is not readily available.
Staff in post at 31 March Annual cost at 1980 prices (£000s)* 1978 627 9,647 1979 604 9,346 1980 559 8,563 1981 541 8,194 *Source: Civil Service Ready Reckoner for Staff Costs 1980 Edition.