HC Deb 12 May 1999 vol 331 c165W
Mr. Rowe

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff work for his Department and its agencies; and how many did so in 1990. [82554]

Mr. Morley

On 1 April 1990, there were 10,495 staff working in my Department and its agencies. On 1 October 1998 (the latest information available) there were 9,702 staff working in MAFF and its agencies undertaking broadly comparable functions. In addition, there are 1,549 staff working for the Meat Hygiene Service who undertake functions which were the responsibility of local authorities in 1990.