§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) staffing and (b) staff costs for the Environment Agency are for 2004–05 in respect of its activities on (i) central administration, (ii) flood defence, (iii) water resources, (iv) environmental protection, licensing activities, (v) environmental protection, non-licensing activities, (vi) fisheries, (vii) recreation and conservations (viii) navigation and (ix) other activities. [176407]
§ Alun MichaelThe Environment Agency's current staff numbers and costs for each function are set out in the following table.
Environment Agency Full time equivalent staff Annual staff costs (£0OO) Central Administration 279 8,841 Flood Defence 4,071 126,450 Water Resources 1,233 39,078 Environmental Protection 3,752 118,176 Fisheries 499 15,823 Recreation and Conservation 189 4,174 Navigation 109 4,685 Other Activities 928 41,654 Total 11,060 358,881 The Agency is not able to distinguish between environmental protection staff working on licensing activities and those working on non-licensing activities. Most staff in Environmental Protection functions undertake both duties depending on need.
"Central Administration" is defined as Head Office Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, Operational Co-ordination, Payroll and other exchequer services and Audit.
"Other Activities" comprise mainly Corporate Information Systems, National Laboratory Service, Legal, Estates and Procurement.
Staff costs include travel and subsistence.