§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the savings he expects from the decision to close the information section at the Ulster Office in London; how many staff worked in that section; and what were their duties.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw[pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1980, c. 430]: £36,000 per annum. Two members of staff worked in the information section in the Ulster Office and received part-time support from clerical and typing staff. The duties of the section were:
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- (a) To organise the publicity aspects of the Ulster Office's trade promotions in Great Britain;
- (b) To assist the industrial promotion efforts of the Department of Commerce; and
- (c) To disseminate general information in Great Britain on behalf of NI Departments.
These functions will now be undertaken by others in the Ulster Office and by the Department of Commerce in Belfast.
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many extra staff will be employed to deal with press inquiries about trade and industrial matters in Northern Ireland consequent upon the closure of the information section in the Ulster Office in London; and what are the estimated costs.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw[pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1980, c. 430]: None, and therefore no extra costs will be incurred.
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff will be employed at the Ulster Office in London after 1 July ; and what were the numbers on 1 July 1979 and 1 July 1975.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw[pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1980, c. 430]: 17 staff are now employed at the Ulster Office in London, of whom three will be transferred to the Department of Commerce in Belfast within the next few months. 23 staff were employed in the Ulster Office on 1 July 1979 and 25 on 1 July 1975.