HC Deb 15 February 1994 vol 237 cc732-3W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will itemise the costs of setting up each of the new regional offices under the single regeneration budget.

Mr. Baldry

The new Government offices for the regions will come into existence in April and, although detailed arrangements are still being worked out, our intention is that there should be no resultant increase in the cost of central Government.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the senior regional directors who will be running the offices which administer the single regeneration budget.

Mr. Baldry

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 8 February column145.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are to be employed in each of the new single regeneration budget regional offices.

Mr. Baldry

Some 2,752 staff are currently employed in the existing regional offices of the Departments of the Environment, Employment, Trade and Industry and Transport. This figure excludes Department of Transport staff who will transfer to the Highways Agency from 1 April. No final decision on the complement of each new regional office has yet been taken.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the salary of each regional director of the single regeneration budget.

Mr. Baldry

Each senior regional director, with the exception of the London appointee, is to be paid at the appropriate personal point on the grade 3 national pay range (currently £51,360–09,599). An announcement about the appointment of a senior regional director for London will be made in due course.