§ Mr. TouhigTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact of his proposed reforms of non-departmental public bodies and agencies on the economy in Wales. [19383]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe Government of Wales Bill provides for the merger of the Welsh Development Agency, the Land Authority for Wales and the Development Board for Rural Wales. This will achieve the Government's objective of reducing the number of unaccountable public bodies in Wales, and will provide for more efficient and effective economic development services across the whole of Wales.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many whole-time equivalent publicly funded officials were employed by non-departmental public 81W bodies in May; and what estimate he has made of the number to be so employed by 2000. [20125]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesAs at May 1997, there were 2,169 full-time equivalent staff employed in executive NDPBs in Wales. Before the National Assembly for Wales is established in May 1999 the Government will take action to reduce the number of executive bodies in Wales from 19 to 14 and, thereafter, the assembly will be able to reduce further their number. This is likely to result in a reduction in the number of staff employed, but it is not possible at this time to estimate precisely what the actual numbers will be in 2000, as that depends on decisions yet to be taken.