The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1983-1987 Parliament

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Departmental Office, Huyton – 28 October 1985

The text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Departmental Office, Huyton on 28th October 1985.


Mr. Sean Hughes Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of hours of overtime worked in the Huyton office of his Department in each of the last five years and to date in 1985.

Mr. Major The hours of overtime worked in the Huyton office are as follows:

Year | Hours

1981-82 | 4,508
1982-83 | 9,996
1983-84 | 2,237
1984-85 | 10,640

The overtime hours worked from 10 April 1985 to 24 September 1985 (the latest date for which accounts are held) are 12,950.

Mr. Sean Hughes Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual cost of the overtime worked in each of the last five years and to date in 1985 in constant terms in the Huyton office of his Department.

Mr. Major The annual cost in constant terms of overtime worked in Huyton office in each of the last five years and to date in 1985 is as follows:

Year | Cost (£)

1981-82 | 31,544
1982-83 | 69,934
1983-84 | 15,646
1984-85 | 74,441

The cost of overtime from 10 April 1985 to 24 September 1985, the latest date for which accounts are held, is £90,605.

These figures are based on 1984-85 average costs of overtime in the Department.

Mr. Sean Hughes Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the reduction in personnel in the Huyton office of his Department over the last three years; and what savings have resulted from the reduction in staff.

Mr. Major Information is available only for the last two years. On 1 April 1983 there were 160 staff in post, on 1 April 1985 the corresponding figure was 153.

The seven posts resulted in a saving of £51,576 based on 1984-85 average salaries costs.