§ 13. Mr. Gibson-Wattasked the Secretary of State for Wales, how many civil servants are now in his offices in 604 London and Cardiff, respectively; and whether he intends to add to their numbers.
§ Mr. James GriffithsThe numbers of staff at present in post in the Welsh Office in London and Cardiff are, respectively, 25 and 234. About 90 staff from the Cardiff Offices of the Ministry of Transport and the Central Office of Information will be transferred on 1st April to the Welsh Office and there will be an additional increase in Cardiff mainly in connection with work on roads and finance now being done by Departments in London.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattMay I ask two supplementary questions of the Secretary of State? First, would he answer the second part of my Question, whether he intends to add to their number? If he does not intend to add to their number may we take it that the Transfer of Functions Order laid before the House is in fact the final word of the Government about this matter?
§ Mr. GriffithsThere will be an increase in the number of the staff at the Welsh Office. When the transfer has been completed and work developed we envisage that the number of staff in Cardiff will reach 400.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattMay I press the right hon. Gentleman further on this matter? Would he tell us definitely whether the functions included in the Transfer of Functions Order are now final?
§ Mr. GriffithsThere is a Transfer of Functions Order laid on the Table of the House, and I am sure that the hon. Member has already studied it. The functions to be transferred are in that Order.