HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 c350W
Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions following the inauguration of the South Eastern Development Agency, what the role of the Government Office of the South East will be. [93253]

Mr. Meale

In common with the other regional Government Offices, GOSE manages programmes on behalf of DFEE, DTI and DETR, supports and facilitates effective linkages between partners and programmes, and informs the development of Departments' policies from a regional perspective. GOSE will work closely with SEEDA, as it does with other regional partners.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are currently employed by the Government Office of the South East; and how many were employed in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1997. [93255]

Mr. Meale

There are currently 247.1 full-time equivalent funded posts in the Government Office for the South East. In 1998 there were 235.1 full-time equivalent funded posts, and in 1997 there were 227 full-time equivalent funded posts.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated out-turn is of the Government Office of the South East for the current financial year. [93254]

Mr. Meale

At this stage of the Financial Year there is no reason to believe that the out-turn will not be the same as the budget of £501,861,000.