HC Deb 15 January 1993 vol 216 cc821-2W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

Mr. Mates

Data on staff employed prior to 1989 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The available information is as follows:—

Staff in Post as at 1 April
1989 50
1990 54
1991 58
1992 58.5

These figures include staff from the home and Northern Ireland civil services and the press offices of Northern Ireland Departments.