§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many information officers are currently employed by his Department; at what cost; and if he will give these figures in respect of each of the last four years.
Mr. HesletineThe information is as follows:
Number £ cash Average salaries, including employer's National Insurance 1 January 1977 76 467,000 1 January 1978 54 359,000 1 January 1979 56 407,000 1 January 1980 52 519,000 1 January 1981 44 559,000 These figures apply to the information officer group which, in addition to press and public relations officers, includes specialists in exhibitions, films, publication, advertising and editorial work. My Department provides a common service in respect of films, publicity and exhibitions to the Department of Transport which, in April 1977, formed its own information division with staff previously employed in the DOE; these staff are included in the figures given for January 1977.