asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total cost of, and number of people employed in, his Department in 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

The Department was created on 5th March 1974. The average number of people employed during the financial year 1974–75 was 10,160 and their gross cost, exclusive of receipts arising from departmental fees and charges, was £38,480,000.