§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Attorney-General how many people currently work in his Department; at what cost to public funds; how this figure compares in similar and real terms with May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [8864]
§ The Attorney-GeneralTwenty-seven staff are currently employed in the legal secretariat to the Law Officers. The total staff costs for the financial year 1994–95—consisting of salary, allowances, overtime, earnings-related national insurance contributions and superannuation—were £1,040,018. This figure does not include agency staff.
The Supply Estimates for the year 1979–1980 show 22 staff at a cost of £209,000. This figure does not include superannuation which is currently 14.9 per cent. of basic salaries. Applying this percentage to staff costs of £209,000 gives a sum of £240,141.
Since 1979 additional functions have been conferred on the Attorney-General, principally supervision of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office, and those connected with the review of certain criminal sentences which may be unduly lenient with a consequent increase in the number of criminal lawyers on my staff.
The staff cost of £240,141 for the financial year 1979–1980 at 1994–1995 prices is £600,112. The difference between the latter figure and that for 1994–1995 is represented in part by an increase generally in the number of staff and the proportion of higher grades, and in part by the increase in staff salaries over and above the rate of inflation over the period in question.