§ Mr. FraserTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recruitment of permanent staff for the Insolvency Service and on the steps his Department is now taking to fill vacancies as they arise.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonA budget for the Insolvency Service has been agreed for 1994–95 which provides for 1,652 established posts together with financial provision for a further 235 staff on non-established terms. I have asked the service to come forward with proposals for additional, non-permanent resources to be deployed in 1994–95 in order to reduce the backlog of case administration and to increase its investigative effort. In advance of agreeing its final budget for 1994–95 the service is not filling any permanent administration grade vacancies that arise.