asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state how many lawyers were employed in his Department on 1 April and 1 October in 1984, 1985 and 1986 and if he will give the establishment figures for the same dates; and if he will state how many different individuals have occupied these posts, giving the average length of employment, in the period I April 1984 to 1 October 1986.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1987]: The number of lawyers employed in the Department for the period 1 April 1984 to 1 October 1986, compared with the complemented posts for the period are:

	Staff in post	Complement
1 April 1984	37½	41
1 April 1985	35½	41
1 April 1986	37½	38
1 October 1986	38½	40½
(October figures are not available for 1984 and 1985 but should not be significantly different).

The average length of service of lawyers who were employed in this Department during the period 1 April 1984 to 1 October 1986 is 12 years.The turnover of legal staff during the period resulted in 47 individuals occupying posts in the Department's legal directorate.