HC Deb 24 March 1987 vol 113 c130W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will give (a) the total cost of running his Department and (b) the total number of civil servants employed in each year since 1979.

Mr. Ridley

The information requested is as follows:

DOE(c) administrative expenditure (£,000) Number of civil servants employed
Cost Real terms1 at 1 April
1979–80 87,078 140,853 1979 11,217
1980–81 116,060 158,256 1980 10,530
1981–82 114,679 142,381 1981 9,821
1982–83 112,395 130,114 1982 8,771
1983–84 145,409 161,148 1983 7,813
1984–85 130,294 138,416 1984 6,605
1985–86 139,563 139,563 1985 6,561
1986–87 140,750 136,650 1986 6,521
1 These figures are expressed at 1985–86 prices, in line with the latest Public Expenditure White Paper (Command 56).

The expenditure figures include all capital and current administrative expenditures. For 1986–87 a Treasury definition of running costs has been established which excludes capital and certain minor current expenditures on this basis the figure for 1986–87 would be £133,582,000. (£129,691 in real terms).