HC Deb 09 December 1987 vol 124 cc173-4W
Mr. Tom Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the responsibilities of each of the deputy secretaries in his Department and the numbers and ranks of staff reporting to each.

Mr. Ridley

The responsibilities and staff of the deputy secretaries in my Department (other than in the Property Services Agency) are as follows:

Deputy Secretary, Planning, Inner Cities, Regional Development, Land and Property Planning, inner cities, regional development, land and property questions; and responsibility for the Department's regional organisation. At Headquarters, two Under Secretaries (Grade 3), two Grade 4s, 91/2 grade 5s and 244 other grades. In the Regional Organisation, nine Under Secretaries, one Grade 4, 191/2 Grade 5s and 8971/2 other grades. Of the Regional Directors eight (seven Grade 3s, and one Grade 4) are common servants of both DOE(C) and the Department of Transport.

Deputy Secretary, Finance and Local Government Principal finance officer: and responsibility for policy on local government matters, including local government finance. Three Under Secretaries (Grade 3), one Grade 4, 15 Grade 5s and 4031/2 other grades.

Deputy Secretary, Environment Protection (also Chief Scientist) Policy questions on environmental protection as a whole; Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution; air, noise and wastes; water supply and water privatisation; rural afffairs, countryside and wildlife conservation. As Chief Scientist, overview of science and research policy, and service as Head of Profession for scientific staff. Five Under Secretaries (Grade 3), one Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories, 19 Grade 5s and 4921 other grades.

Deputy Secretary, Housing, Construction and the Built Heritage Housing policy and public expenditure; housing subsidy for local housing authorities; housing associations; house renovation; private rented sector; housing monitoring and analysis; new towns; building regulations; relations with the construction industry; ancient monuments and historic buildings; sport and recreation. Management responsibility for the Building Research Establishment. Seven Under Secretaries (Grade 3), one Grade 4, 28 Grade 5s and 2,186 other grades.

Deputy Secretary, Solicitor and Legal Adviser Legal advice to the Department. Two Under Secretaries, 11 Grade 5s and 54 other grades including 25 non-professional staff, nine of whom also discharge some functions for the Department of Transport.

Director General of Organisation and Establishments The Director General of Organisation and Establishments is the Department's Principal Establishments Officer who with his staff provides a common service to both the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment (Central). Management responsibility for the Planning Inspectorate. Four Under Secretaries, three Grade 4s, 16 Grade 5s and 1,9711/2 other grades. Many of the staff of this command are common servants of both DOE(C) and the Department of Transport.

Chief Architectural Adviser on the Built Environment Chief Architectural Adviser to the Department. (The Chief Architectural Adviser also serves as the Director General of Design Services in the Property Services Agency.) In his capacity as Chief Architectural Adviser, supported by staff who also serve in the Housing command. As Director General of Design Services, supported by PSA staff.

In the figures shown above, part time officers are shown as half posts. A further 158 departmental staff are not attached to any of the commands shown above.