§ Dr. StrangTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many vacancies existed for trading standards officer posts in each year from 1979 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Leigh:[holding answer 21 April 1993]: Information provided to my Department by local weights and measures authorities in England, Wales and Scotland indicates that since 1987–1988 the numbers of vacancies for qualified trading standards officers have been:
1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 England 211 255 287 257 211 Scotland 37 42 35 32 52 Wales 7 8 15 13 11 Total 255 305 337 302 274 Figures for preceding years are not readily available.