§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many posts are to be abolished in the legal department of his office; and what saving will be made as a result;
(2) what will be the cost of employing private solicitors to carry out conveyancing work on behalf of his Department.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsWith minor exceptions, the only conveyancing work undertaken by the legal division of the Welsh Office is that carried out on behalf of the area health authorities in Wales, for whom other legal work is also undertaken. The possibility of employing private solicitors to undertake some or all of the work done for the area health authorities is currently being studied, and no decision will be taken without full consultation with those authorities. Present indications are that the cost of employing private solicitors for the conveyancing work might be some £55,000 per annum at current rates, although there would, of course, be an offsetting saving in staff salaries and so on.
The complementing of the legal division of the Welsh Office is currently under review but no decisions have been taken regarding the abolition of posts.