§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many staff they expect to be employed by the joint committee and the councils for England, Scotland and Wales after implementation of the changes to the Nature Conservancy Council proposed in the Environmental Protection Bill; and what is the expected cost.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)Detailed work on the staffing, structure and organisation of the three new country councils (including the joint committee) is currently being undertaken by the Government and the existing agencies, in consultation with the chairmen designate of the new councils and the joint committee. Final figures are not yet available for the number of staff likely to be employed after reorganisation. Preparatory work to establish the three new councils and their joint committee is likely to cost about £1.4m in 1990–91. Some additional costs will be incurred thereafter in operating the new councils and servicing the committee, but it is too early to give a definitive figure, as several issues (including staffing) are still under detailed consideration.