§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many staff, broken down by grade, have been assigned to the Rural Advocate; [153249]
(2) how many staff at each grade will be employed in the Countryside Agency's Rural Proofing Unit. [153248]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe Countryside Agency has informed me that the total number of agency staff working in the Rural Proofing Unit is 10. This is made up of 2 Grade 7s (1 part time), 3 staff at S level, 3 at H level, 1 at E level and 1 at A level.
However, a wide range of other staff in the Countryside Agency will be supporting the Central Unit in its rural proofing work.