§ Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is now able to announce the name of the new head of the Ulster Office in London.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIn reply to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) I said on 28th April that in future the Ulster Office should concentrate on an industrial and commercial role under the direct control of the Department of Commerce and that the new head of the office, following the retirement of Sir Harry Jones, would be announced in due course.
I have now decided that Mr. H. S. Oliver, at present a deputy secretary in the Department of Commerce, should become head of the Ulster Office, with the title of Director. He will not, however, be able to relinquish his present duties until next spring, when he retires from the Northern Ireland Civil Service. He will therefore take up his new
260Wthe names of the holders, the salaries and expenses paid to the holders of these appointments and when such appointments were made.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesDetails of the appointments made by departments for which I am responsible are as follows:
appointment on 1st May 1977. In the meantime, Sir David Holden, who retires from the Northern Ireland Civil Service on 30th June 1976, will act as Director with effect from 1st August this year.