§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the recent restructuring of his Department and its implications for shipping and ports policy; if he will give details of the establishment in his Department as it relates to shipping and ports related posts; and if he will indicate which posts are currently unfilled or vacant.
§ Mr. McLoughlinSome changes were made with effect from 2 September to the responsibilities of a number of directorates in the Department, but these had no implications for shipping and ports policy. There are some 1,020 shipping and ports related posts in the Department including 483 coastguard grades. As at 8 November there were five administrative vacancies, 13 specialist vacancies and 29 vacancies in coastguard grades.