§ 3. Mr. Peytonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the staff of the Department of Agriculture has increased in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. MaclayLeaving aside the 280 officers who were transferred from the Scottish Home Department to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries when responsibility for fisheries and certain other work was transferred from the former to the latter Department, the net increases in the last three years have been 12, 34 and 35. These additions were required mainly for new work arising out of recent legislation.
§ Mr. PeytonIs my right hon. Friend aware that this increase has not always been matched by what has happened in England? Is he also aware of the very undesirable growth that has been taking place continuously for five or six years? Is he further aware that although an answer to a supplementary question yesterday revealed that Mr. Parkinson was not in the Foreign Office, it seems a near certainty that someone of that name has gone into the Scottish Office?
§ Mr. MaclayIf my hon. Friend studies carefully the reply that I have given he will realise that the increases have been very modest. When I add that out of the 12, 34 and 35, a number are 1147 employed in connection with computer machines which will ultimately effect substantial savings in manpower and costs, he will realise that we are pursuing a wise policy.
§ Mr. JayIs not the main trouble with the Scottish Office not that there are too many officials, but that there are too many Ministers?
§ Mr. MaclayCertainly not. If the right hon. Gentleman studies the work that Scottish Office Ministers do, he will realise how necessary they are, and how valuable.