§ Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of(a) the number and (b) the process of selection of (i) former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials and (ii) former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions officials now working in her Department; and if she will make a statement. [25774]
§ Mr. MorleyWhen DEFRA was created on 8 June 2001, all staff working in MAFF and the staff working on environmental protection and wildlife and countryside in DETR transferred to the new Department. As at 1 November 2001, there were 8,157 staff in core DEFRA and 5,952 staff in DEFRA agencies, making a total of 14,109 staff. Of the 8,157 staff in core DEFRA, 635 came from DETR and 7,522 came from former MAFF or joined DEFRA as new employees since 8 June.