HC Deb 17 February 1982 vol 18 cc169-70W
Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of staff employed by each of the regional and island councils in Scotland for the years 1978–79 and 1981–82, respectively.

Mr. Younger

Numbers employed by each of the regional and islands councils at 12 September 1981 are shown in the table below, based on Joint Manpower Watch returns. Figures for individual local authorities have been published in the Joint Manpower Watch with effect from June 1981 but are not available centrally for 1978–79.

The total numbers employed by regional and islands councils in September 1979 were 164,515 full—time and 67,484 part—time. These figures are not directly comparable with those for September 1981 because of the omission in the returns before then by some authorities of certain categories of temporary relief workers. These numbered 1,517 full—time and 1,699 part—time in September 1981.

Numbers employed Full-time September 1981 Part-time
Regional Councils
Borders 2,523 1,346
Central 7,963 3,705
Numbers employed Fulltime September 1981 Part-time
Dumfries and Galloway 4,180 2,006
Fife 9,686 4,365
Grampian 13,262 7,290
Highland 6,401 2,924
Lothian 26,335 12,171
Strathclyde 82,584 27,668
Tayside 12,135 4,271
Islands Councils
Orkney 829 464
Shetland 1,205 777
Western Isles 1,271 857
168,374 67,844

Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the expenditure of each regional and island council for 1978–79 and their planned expenditure fur 1981–82 and indicate by what percentage the latter figure exceeds or falls short of the Government's guidelines.

Mr. Younger

The information is as follows:

£@November 1980 prices (excluding loan charges)
Councils (1) 1978–79 outturn (2) 1981–82 budgets (3) Excess over guideline for 1981–82
£m £m Per cent.
Borders 34.59 35.94 2.7
Central 86.88 89.10 3.6
Dumfries and Galloway 46.55 47.41 –0.2
Fife 105.59 112.30 7.0
Grampian 149.77 155.46 3.0
Highland 74.19 76.33 3.1
Lothian 261.39 291.57 *13.9
Strathclyde 906.90 925.39 3.6
Tayside 133.62 135.11 †3.5
Orkney 11.37 11.91 40.2
Shetland 11.74 18.96 72.4
Western Isles 17.24 16.50 †6.5

* Following a reduction in planned expenditure as a result of the Secteretary of State's action under Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981.

† Following voluntary revision of original budget.