To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently employed by the Property Services Agency; and if he will give a breakdown of the number of employees in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the English regions and overseas, respectively.

As at 31 December 1991, PSA Services employed a total of 17,581 staff in the following locations:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he has made in the Property Services Agency to prepare it for privatisation; and if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for this sale.

PSA Services was restructured in 1990 into two main businesses, PSA Projects and PSA Building Management, which now consists of five regional businesses. A contractor manager was appointed for BM in November 1991. Improved management and accounting systems are being installed and commercial contracts with client Departments are being negotiated. Action has been taken to reduce costs. A major staff rundown is in hand, as far as possible by voluntary means, though compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out. I intend to offer PSA Projects for sale early this year; I am currently considering the timing and the form in which it should be offered for sale. I expect to offer the five BM businesses for sale in the second half of 1992–93 on the basis of the implementation plan currently being developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the Property Services Agency on 1 April 1991; and what were the corresponding numbers in 1990, 1989, 1988 and 1987.

PSA Services employed a total of 19,571 people on 1 April 1991. Corresponding totals for previous years are: