§ 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 Community.
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 3 November 1992]: All staff are expected to be able to deal from time to time with the domestic implications of EC legislation or activities. Other than that there are currently 20.5 staff in the Department whose sole or main task is dealing with work directly generated by the European Community or the United Kingdom's current presidency of the Council of Ministers. In addition a number of staff in the Benefits Agency and Contributions Agency are engaged in the payment of benefits to, and collection of national insurance contributions from, people living abroad, including in the European Community.