Agriculture Department, Ruthin

HC Deb 14 January 1988 vol 125 cc377-8W

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the Welsh Office Agriculture Department, Ruthin, will remain open for the foreseeable future;

(2) if he will meet staff unions from the Agriculture Department office in Ruthin to discuss the prospects for closure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker

We have no plans to close the Ruthin divisional office.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are employed at the Agriculture Department office in Ruthin; how many cases this office handles annually; and how many farms in north Wales this office is expected to service annually.

Mr. Peter Walker

The divisional office at Ruthin employs about 77 people (including 26 ADAS staff). Claims and grant applications in 1987 totalled 5,709. The number of holdings recorded in 1987 was 6,366.