§ 37. Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans for expanding the number of civil servants in his Department.
§ Mr. BennI expect there to be some modest increase in the staff of my Department as the Government's policies develop. In particular, I have in mind such matters as participation in the exploitation of the North Sea, the launching of the British National Oil Corporation, increased regulatory activity—all subject to the passage of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Bill—and energy conservation.