HC Deb 15 July 1987 vol 119 cc554-5W
Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of staff employed by the Development Commission and Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas who work mainly outside London and Salisbury, in each of the past 10 years and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

None of the Development Commission staff have worked outside London. The numbers of COSIRA staff working mainly outside London and Salisbury in the years 1978–87 are as follows:

Number
1978 170
1979 193
1980 203
1981 179
1982 189
1983 191
1984 183
1985 202
1986 209
1987 208

In addition, COSIRA now employs 56 part-time consultants, who work mainly outside Salisbury.

Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of employees of (a) the Development Commission and (b) the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moynihan

The number of employees of the Development Commission and COSIRA in the last 10 financial years has been as follows:

Year Development Commission COSIRA
1978–79 38 316.5
1979–80 38 331
1980–81 35 310
1981–82 35 305
1982–83 37 303
1983–84 39 303
1984–85 44 303
1985–86 45 303
1986–87 45 308
1987–88 45 308

In addition, COSIRA now employs 56 part-time consultants on a regular basis.

Mr. Key

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional funds have been made available to the Development Commission and Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas under the Government's ALURE package in relation to the rural economy.

Mr. Moynihan

In the farming and rural enterprise package following ALURE the Government provided a further £1 million in 1987/88 for the Development Commission. This was in addition to the increase of £2 million for 1987/88 which had previously been announced.