§ Miss Richardsonasked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) what she anticipates will be the effect on the efficiency of her Department's rural development programme arising from the transfer of posts to Glasgow, in view of the permanent understaffing of the National Savings Bank and the rapid staff turnover in that department;
(2) if she expects the proposed transfer of personnel to Glasgow and the loss of efficiency which this move entails to have any effect on her Department's relation 390W ship with other donor countries, multilateral agencies and aid-receiving Governments;
(3) if the proposed transfer of posts to Glasgow will affect the process of implementing her Department's rural poverty focused programme, particularly as the move will separate many of the functional departments from the geographical departments; and what effect these changes will have on the morale of staff committed to the programme.
§ Mrs. HartAs I informed my hon. Friend on 21st March—[Vol. 928, c. 370]—I am confident that my Department will still be able to implement our aid strategy effectively, though there will inevitably be some loss of efficiency. I do not expect that there will be any marked effect on our relationships with other donors, multilateral agencies or recipient Governments or on rural development programmes.
My hon. Friend referred to the National Savings Bank. I am assured that the staffing position there is now satisfactory.