§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Lord President of the Council (1) what is the current staffing establishment of the devolution unit; and how many of the staff have been newly recruited to the Civil Service, as opposed to being seconded or transferred from other Departments;
(2) what is the current annual cost to public funds of the devolution unit, including provision for both salaries and administrative overheads.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe number of staff in the Constitution Unit, which assists me in co-ordinating my constitutional responsibilities, including those relating to devolution, is 32. Of these, five subordinate staff were newly recruited; the remainder are on secondment or temporary transfer from other Departments or from elsewhere in the Cabinet Office. The current annual cost of the Constitution Unit is approximately £264,000, including salaries and certain administrative overheads.