§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Parliamentary Under.. Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what is the normal length of time taken by the Minister for the Arts to reply to letters from hon. Members about the effect on the arts of the proposed abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy noble Friend the Minister for the Arts normally expects to reply to letters from hon. Members within about two weeks of receipt. This is not always possible when the issues raised or the information sought are complex, or when the volume of correspondence is unusually large. My noble Friend has received since the beginning of this year some 70 letters from hon. Members on the abolition of the GLC and metropolitan county councils. Every effort is made to reply as quickly as circumstances and resources permit.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts how many full-time staff and in what grades in the Office of Arts and Libraries are engaged upon work resulting from the proposed abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOne principal, one higher executive officer and one executive officer in the Office of Arts and Libraries are each engaged for the majority of their time on this work, it also accounts for part of the time of the head of the office (deputy secretary), two assistant secretaries and certain staff in other grades.