HC Deb 28 October 1982 vol 29 cc560-1W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons are employed by local authorities at the nearest available date(a)in refuse collection and(b)as office cleaners; and what were the comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The total numbers of local authority employees engaged on office cleaning and on refuse collection are not available centrally. The figures for refuse collection and disposal employees in England were, according to the joint manpower watch:

Year (June) Full-time Part-time Total employed
1979 47,602 280 47,882
1980 47,221 321 47,542
1981 45,202 332 45,534
1982 42,787 311 43,098

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have allowed private contractors to take over the following services:(a)refuse collection and(b)pest control.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The local authorities on which information is available centrally are as follows:

(a)Refuse collection—full service: Southend, Eastbourne, North Norfolk, Wandsworth. Major part: Kensington and Chelsea, Maldon, mid-Bedfordshire. (b)Pest control: Bracknell, Cannock, Chiltern, East Cambridgeshire, Scunthorpe, Shepway, South Kesteven, Torbay, Gillingham, Medway, South Bucks.