asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the number, and the average cost, of information officers employed by his Department at the beginning of each of the last four years.

The number of information officers employed by my Department and the average cost of salary plus employer's national insurance contribution is as follows:

Number of Staff and Average Cost: 1.1.76, 57, £5,754; 1.1.77, 59, £6,545; 1.1.78, 53, £7,018; 1.1.79, 54, £7,638; 1.1.80, 54, £9,590.

The information officers group, in addition to press and public relations officers, includes information specialists in exhibitions, publications and paid publicity.