§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each year from 1979–80, including 1991–92, the number of staff actually employed on 1 April and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts in the press and public relations office of his Department.
580W
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 26 April 1991] Functions which are commonly associated with press and public relations are carried out by the Department's headquarters information division.
Information for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 is not available in the form requested.
Date Staff in post Complement 1 April 1989 79 186 1 April 1990 70.5 281 1 April 1991 25 334.5 From April 1991 the Benefits Agency became responsible for its own information service. The figures are as follows. 1 April 1991 54 456 1 Of the complement 19 were Information Officer grades. 2 Of the complement 22 were Information Officer grades. 3 Of the complement 19 are Information Officer grades. 4 Of the complement 14 are Information Officer grades.