HC Deb 19 February 1998 vol 306 cc805-6W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the number of his Department's employees by UK region, indicating the wage bill(a) in total and (b) by region in the last year for which figures are available and separately identifying the costs of London allowances and weightings. [30082]

Mr. Tom Clarke

[holding answer 18 February 1998]: The total paybill and average number of staff in post within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and agencies in 1996–97 are shown in the table:

1996–97 paybill £ million Average number of staff in post in1996–97
DCMS 10.75 361
Historic Royal Palaces 10.645 518
The Royal Parks 7.324 257

Extracting historic information from the Chessington Payroll Centre on London allowances and weightings can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. DCMS consolidated the Inner London Weighting Allowance of £1,776 into basic pay with effect from 1 November 1996. Local Pay Additions continue to be paid as a separate allowance. The Agencies currently continue to pay separate London weighting and allowances.

The offices of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and agencies are all London based.