§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present size and establishment of the Merseyside task force; and what its cost has been to central Government in each year since it was appointed.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe number of staff employed at the Department of the Environment's Merseyside task force is 49. The task force was set up in October 1981. On 8 July 1983 the then Secretary of State announced that a more permanent office would be established on Merseyside. This new establishment became operative on 3 January 1984.
The costs to my Department of salaries and accommodation, including telephone expenses in each year, have been as follows:
Financial Year £000s *1981–82 82.5 1982.83 181.9 * Part. For subsequent years I am able to give more comprehensive costs. These are as follows:
Financial Year £000s 1983–84 243.7 1984–85 608.7 1985–86 *647.6 * Projected outturn.