§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many posts have been lost in the Environment Agency in the current financial year; and what estimate he has made of further losses based on current planned expenditure in 1998–99. [17294]
§ Angela EagleThe Environment Agency has not lost any posts overall in the current financial year. Resource allocations for 1998–99 have yet to be decided. The Agency's latest Corporate Plan shows a budgeted increase of 101 staff between 1996–97 and 1997–98, and a further planned increase of 37 in 1998–99.