The amount the government pays its workforce in a month has increased by more than £2 million in two years.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas said that the number of people employed directly by the government, with contracted hours, stood at 7,850 at the end of September this year. This compares with 7,838 at the end of September 2016.

He added: ’The full employment costs for the month of September 2016 amounted to £25.5 million. The full employment costs for the month of September 2018 amounted to £27.7 million.

’In both cases, the employment costs exclude expenses but include all other costs such as basic pay, overtime, allowances, employers’ pension and NI contributions.’

The minister was responding in a written answer to a House of Keys question tabled by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew).

Mr Moorhouse said it was a ’real concern’ that while staff numbers had increased by only 12, the costs had increased by more than £2 million.

He added: ’One of the key messages during the September 2016 election was the need for smaller, less costly government. This answer suggests there is a long way to go.’