HC Deb 22 January 1986 vol 90 cc227-8W
50. Mr. Lawler

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on agreements made with trade unions regarding salary and compensation arrangements for metropolitan county council staff going to work for metropolitan district councils.

Mr. Tracey

Agreements between trade unions and local authorities as employers are not matters for the Government. Regulations prescribing the detailed arrangements for compensation, including compensation for financial detriment, will be made shortly.

55. Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the numbers of local government employees in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1985, respectively.

Mrs. Rumbold

The available information relating to Great Britain is as follows:

General services and police*
Thousands at June of each year
Full-time Part-time Total
1960 1,328 381 1,709
1970 1,642 745 2,387
1980 1,883 977 2,860
1985 1,796 987 2,783
* Excludes police civilians and cadets, traffic wardens, staff of magistrates courts, probation service, staff, and agency staff, figures for which are not available for the earlier years.

Figures over this period are not strictly comparable because of the changes in functions of local authorities. In particular between 1969 and 1970 about 20,000 employees were transferred to passenger transport executives, and a further 90,000 employees were transferred to FTE's, regional water authorities, and the National Health Service in 1974.