asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many permanent officials are currently employed by the Price Commission; how many temporary officials are currently employed by the Price Commission; from which organisations or Departments temporary officials are seconded; what are the numbers from each source; what is the average duration of secondment; what are the requisite qualifications for temporary staff on secondment to the Price Commission; and what was the total cost of operation of the Price Commission for the latest financial year.

At 30th April 1978 the total number of staff employed by the Commission was 587. I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member about temporary staff employed by the Commission. The cost of the Commission during 1977–78 is provisionally estimated to be £4·9 million, excluding the cost of services provided by other Government Departments and borne on their Votes.