§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1982]: The numbers of civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office on 1 April 1979 and 1 January 1982 were:
1 April 1979 1 January 1982 Per cent change NIO 1,681 1,541 -8.3 Equivalent figures for Northern Ireland Departments, for which my right hon. Friend is also responsible were:
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1 April 1979 1 January 1982 Per cent Change NI Departments 28,470 26,756 -6.0 Staff at Principal grade and above
The term "first division civil servant" is not recognised Civil Service terminology. However, of the totals shown above the numbers of staff at principal grade and above, and equivalent professional, technical and scientific grades, in the NIO and NI Departments were:
1 April 1979 1 January Per cent Change NI Departments and NI Departments
1091.5 1085.5 -0.5 Notes
1.All figures have been calculated on the basis of full-time equivalents, ie part-time staff have been counted as half-units.
2.Figures for February 1982 will not be available until March 1982.