§ Lord Hoosonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made with regard to establishing integrated regional government offices to co-ordinate the work of government departments at regional level and setting out the staffing at each of the established offices.
Earl FerrersTen Government Offices integrating the former regional offices of the Departments of Environment, Trade and Industry, Transport, and Education and Employment (formerly Employment) were established in April 1994. Their staff levels at 1 November 1996 were:
Number North East 332 North West 308 Yorkshire and the Humber 302 Merseyside 137 West Midlands 341 East Midlands 241 Eastern Region 185 South West 218 South East 220 London 295 These figures include casual staff and those on fixed term appointments; they also include staff seconded out, and those on career breaks, maternity leave , and special leave without pay. The figure for the Government Office for the North East includes those in the Import Licensing Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry, which is based in Billingham.