§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what are the numbers now employed in those departments of the Scottish Office which will be transferred to the Scottish Assembly.
(2) what has been the increase or decrease in numbers of civil servants employed in the Scottish Office since 1974; and what in that time has been the increase or decrease in those departments which will transfer to the Scottish Assembly.
§ Mr. MillanI have been asked to reply.
It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested since the functions to be devolved under the provisions of the Scotland Act, 1978, do not correspond to the present departmental structure of the Scottish Office. The total numbers of civil servants employed in the Scottish Office, including the prison service and the State hospital, on 1 October 1974 and 1 October 1978 respectively were 9,809 and 10,817. The devolved administration would be responsible for about 8,500 staff engaged in the administration of functions at present carried out by the Scottish Office and a further 2,000 in minor Scottish departments.