asked the Secretary of State for Industry what were the numbers of employees at British Steel, the British Gas Corporation, the Electricity Council, the National Coal Board, and the Post Office on 1st January 1976 and 1st January 1965, respectively.

Questions on the British Gas Corporation, the Electricity Council and the National Coal Board are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.Of the corporations for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, the British Steel Corporation was set up in 1967 and the number of employees on vesting day, 1st July 1967, was 257,000. The latest available figure is for 4th October 1975, when 220,000 were employed.The number employed by the Post Office on 1st January 1965 was 383,310. The latest available figure is for 30th September 1975, when the number employed was 433,596.