HC Deb 23 February 1982 vol 18 c372W
Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants were employed by his Department in May 1979; how many are employed in February 1982; and what has been the percentage change; in each case how many were first division civil servants; and what has been the percentage change in their numbers.

Mr. Younger

The number of staff in the Scottish Office, including the prison service and the State hospital was, at the nearest convenient dates, 11,174 at 1 April 1979 and 10,581 at 1 January 1982. Over this period transfers of staff to and from other Departments have resulted in a net addition of 120 to the Scottish Office. When account is taken of this net addition, the decrease in numbers is 6.3 per cent. Excluding the prison service and the State hospital the decrease is over 10 per cent.

"First division civil servants" is not a recognised Civil Service term. The numbers of staff employed in the Scottish Office at Principal and equivalent professional grade and above were 862 and 792 at 1 April 1979 and 1 January 1982, respectively.