§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of civil servants in his Department whose main task is work related wholly or mainly to the European Economic Community; and what is the gross annual cost of travel and accommodation to and from Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg in connection with this work.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe number of social security staff dealing wholly or mainly with matters relating to the European Community is 88. This figure includes 79 staff at Newcastle central office dealing with payment of benefits/pensions to beneficiaries resident in other EC countries.
In addition, there are four members of staff in the legal branch shared with the Department of Health who deal exclusively with EC matters.
A small number of these staff attend EC meetings abroad when necessary but I regret that records of costs incurred for travel and subsistence are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Other staff may also be involved in EC work from time to time.