§ Sir David Priceasked the Paymaster General 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. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1982, c. 326]: In May 1979 my Department employed 869 civil servants; in February 1982 the total was 918, an increase of 5.6 per cent. The 1982 total includes the three civil servants employed in my private office whereas, because of the different responsibilities of the then Paymaster General, the 1979 total does not.
Although the term "first division civil servants". is not recognised Civil Service terminology, my Department employed 11 civil servants at principal level and above in February 1982 as against nine in May 1979. The increase of two is wholly attributable to the inclusion in the 1982 figures of my private office staff.
During the period covered by these figures the number of pensions paid by my office increased by 14 per cent. and the number of cheques processed increased by 16 per cent.