HC Deb 02 February 1996 vol 270 cc976-7W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time members of staff are currently employed at each of the Welsh Office agricultural department divisional offices. [12309]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The following full-time members of staff, excluding short-term casual staff, are currently employed at each of the agricultural divisional offices—as at 26 January:

Number
Caernarfon 141
Carmarthen 145
Llandrindod Wells 168
Total 454

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reductions he estimates will take place in current staffing levels within the agriculture group of the Welsh Office in 1996–97; and what assessment he has made of his Department's capacity to meet the standards set out in "Helping Farmers in Wales" following these reductions. [12307]

Mr. Jones

Final decisions on the 1996–97 running cost budgets for individual groups have not yet been made.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time members of staff are currently employed by the Welsh Office agricultural department in Cardiff; and at what grades. [12310]

Mr. Jones

There are the following full-time staff in the agriculture department in Cardiff—as at 26 January 1996:

Number
Grade 3 1
Grade 5 3
Grade 7 5
SEO 4
HEO 13
EO 18
AO 9
AA 9
PS 4

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current ratio of Welsh Office agricultural department staff to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Wales. [12308]

Mr. Jones

The ratio of current Welsh Office agricultural staff, excluding short-term casual staff, to the total number of farmers, partners and directors in Wales is 1:63 (rounded).