asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men employed in his Department on 14th November 1977 were in receipt of wages and salaries at or below those paid at the basic rate for firemen.

The precise information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There are, however, some 4,400 men on rates and scales of pay below the basic rate for firemen and there are a further 14,800 on scales of pay with minima below the basic rate.