HC Deb 20 July 1989 vol 157 cc294-5W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has(a) the employment in and (b) the costs of, each branch of the public health laboratory service in each year since 1980.

Mr. Mellor

The number of staff employed by the public health laboratory service in each branch since 1980 is:

1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
Central Public Health Laboratory 3.6 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.9 5.4 5.9 6.5
Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research 3.3 3.2 3.4 5.3 4.2 4.3 5.3 4.6 5.7
Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3
Area and Regional Laboratories and Headquarters 11.1 13.6 13.9 15.1 15.9 17.3 17.8 20.1 21.7

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basic pay of all grades of staff employed by the public health laboratory service in animal handling; and what is the actual average gross pay and hours worked on each public health laboratory service site.

Mr. Mellor

The basic pay varies according to salary grades and duties but the average gross pay per annum including overtime is £9,663. Average hours worked per week by animal handlers on PHLS sites with such a facility vary between 37 and 43.