§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the present complement of the Economic Planning Unit at the Welsh Office; what steps he intends to take to strengthen it; and what use is made of outside consultants and university authorities by this Planning Unit.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThere is no one Unit which, as such, deals with all the economic and associated planning matters which come within the purview of the Welsh Office. I am considering how the staff which serves the Welsh Economic Council should be strengthened, having regard in particular to the wider functions of the Welsh Council, as described in the White Paper on Local Government in Wales (Cmnd. 3340).
Consultants and university members are commissioned by the Welsh Office to undertake planning studies, as necessary.