HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 cc44-5W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff have been employed in the education department in each of the last four years indicating the number, by full-time equivalent, employed in each specified area of responsibility within the department. [34817]

Mr. Hague

The information is set out in the following table. Over the period, various responsibilities have been transferred both between divisions within the education department and between the Department and outside bodies, and staffing levels have changed accordingly.

enterprise council business growth and start-up measures, (f) Business Connect Wales, (g) all training programmes subdivided into specific sectors, (h) the careers services and (i) other programmes in each of these years; and how many full-time equivalents are involved in initiatives financed or carried out by training and enterprise councils. [34818]

Mr. Hague

The Welsh Office Industry and Training Department was set up in May 1994. The total staff complement of its constituent divisions is set out in the table.

31 March 1995 31 March 1996
Industrial and training policy division 20.65 20.5
Business services division 30.57 28.05
Training finance and management division 46.0 38.8
Industrial development division 85 88.2
182.22 175.55

Direct comparisons between years are not possible because some work has been transferred between divisions, neither is it possible to disaggregate staffing further because most staff are not engaged solely on the discrete elements identified in the question.

The main divisional functions are:

Industrial and training policy division is responsible for advice and briefing on industrial policy and training policy; for economic briefing; general industrial and employment casework; for liaison with the Ministry of Defence on matters which affect Wales; for securing the effective implementation of the people and prosperity action plan; for the operation of training programmes and initiatives; and for sponsorship of the National Council of Vocational Qualifications in respect of its work in Wales.

Business services division is responsible for small firms policy, and a range of business development services including Business Connect Wales; deregulation; for schemes to encourage innovation and technological development, environmental awareness, and energy efficiency; and for Welsh interests in the energy, steel and telecommunications industries.

Training finance and management division is responsible for contracts with training and enterprise councils and for co-ordination of the Department's operational interest in TECs; for the management of contracts with careers service companies; and for financial management and accountability issues in respect of those programmes.

Industrial development division is responsible for administering the regional selective assistance, regional enterprise grants schemes in Wales and residual work arising from the exchange risk guarantee scheme; for inward investment policy; for the provision of export services and for regional overseas links.