§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed within the Local Education Authority Support Division of his Department; and what is(a) the cost of that division in 1998–99 and (b) the budgeted cost for 1999–2000. [80388]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 13 April 1999]The Local Education Authority Support Division, within the Department for Education and Employment, has a staffing establishment of 50 people; a further 4 people are currently employed to support the change process to the new organisational structure.
Appointments to the Division, made through open competition, include existing staff from within the 255W Department and the Funding Agency for Schools as well as some external candidates.
The budget cost of the Division in 1998–99 was £440,000.
The budget cost for the Division in 1999–2000 is £1,629,000.