34. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the respective total numbers of staff of all grades of the Scottish Office at present engaged in 176 London and Scotland; also the equivalent numbers anticipated after the opening of St. Andrews House; whether St. Andrews House will accommodate all such staff in Scotland as it is desirable to house in a headquarters establishment; and if not, the percentage of those who will be so accommodated?
§ Mr. ColvilleI assume that my hon. Friend refers only to the staff of the existing Scottish Office, or the Scottish Home Department which will be formed by the merger of the Scottish Office, the Fishery Board and the Prisons Department, and not to the staff of all the Departments for which I am responsible. On this assumption the answer to the first part of the question is 106 and 44 respectively. The numbers of the headquarters staff of the Scottish Home Department to be employed in London and Scotland respectively will be approximately 70 and 164. The staff to be employed in London in cludes, in addition to the Defence and Fire Brigades Division of the Scottish Home Department, the Ministers' private secretaries with their clerks and typists, the clerks and typists assisting the London liaison officers of all the four main Scottish Departments, and all messengers and cleaners at Dover House. Except for two officers engaged on special duty, all the headquarters staff to be employed in Scotland will be accommodated in St. Andrews' House.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the fact that the new building is ready, is the Minister going to make any arrangement for occasional meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in the new building in Edinburgh?
§ Mr. ColvilleThat is another question.