§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that(a) ecologists and (b) environmental scientists are employed by the Countryside Council for Wales; and if he will make a statement about recent redundancies of (a) and (b) at the Countryside Council for Wales. [21355]
§ Mr. HagueThe Countryside Council for Wales currently employs 176 full-time equivalent scientists— some of them part-timers—all of whom are qualified and/or engaged in ecological and natural science issues. The council will continue to employ suitably qualified staff to carry out its work. There have been no recent redundancies in the council, but eight staff employed on fixed-term contracts for specific work are due to leave in May when their work is completed.