§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the changes which have taken place in respect of his(a) responsibilities, (b) budget and (c) staff numbers between 1979 and 1996. [21162]
§ Mr. HagueThe functions which have transferred from my Department since 1979 are:
- 1986: Small Firms Service to the Welsh Development Agency
- 1988: Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority
- 1992: Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales established as a separate Government Department
- 1993: Orbital Prosthetist Service to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority
93 - 1993: Dental Services to the Dental Practice Board
- 1993: Divisional Medical Office to the Benefits Agency
In addition, NHS litigation work will transfer to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority on 1 April 1996.
The functions which my Department has gained since 1979 are:
- 1984: Regional development grant work
- 1992: Training, including responsibility for training and enterprise Councils
- 1993: Responsibility for the further and higher education funding councils.
Details of my Department's running costs and staff numbers are as follows:
Running costs (£ million) Permanent staff (April) 1979–80 17.8 2,599 1980–81 22.6 2,430 1981–82 24.7 2,363 1982–83 25.4 2,212 1983–84 31.5 2,177 1984–85 32.9 2,207 1985–86 32.8 2,279 1986–87 37.9 2,271 1987–88 39.2 2,278 1988–89 40.5 2,162 1989–90 45.7 2,203 1990–91 51.4 2,308 1991–92 58.1 2,326 1992–93 70.4 2,535 1993–94 76.5 2,430 1994–95 77.4 2,376 1995–96 76.1 2,229 These figures are not comparable over time. For example, running costs in 1979–80 did not include superannuation charges, the training and enterprise councils management fee and various overhead costs including accommodation, which have added at least £22 million to the 1995–96 figure.