§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have disbanded their direct labour organisations since April 1979; and if he will provide the figures of those employed in these organisations in the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.
§ Mr. StanleyInformation on the number of local authority direct labour organisations disbanded since April 1979 is not available, but authorities have been asked in the Department's latest statistical return whether they have a DLO. On the returns received to date 13 local authorities in England have indicated that they have no DLO.
The numbers of operatives directly employed by local authorities and new towns in Great Britain to carry out building, civil engineering, or associated work in each of the last four years are as follows:
(rounded figures) April 1979 161,000 April 1980 158,000 April 1981 151,000 April 1982 136,000 The figures for 1979 and 1980, and earlier years, have already been published in "Housing and Construction Statistics 1970–1980", HMSO 1981. Figures for later years will be published in future issues of this annual publication.
"Housing and Construction Statistics" also provides figures for administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff employed by local authorities on building and civil engineering work, but it is not possible to distinguish between those engaged in work carried by DLOs and those engaged in work put out to contractors.