§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995. [117813]
§ Ms Beverley HughesOn 31 March 2000, 82 lawyers were employed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, including its Agencies.
610WIt is not possible to make strict comparisons with the situation that existed prior to the formation of the Department in 1997. The organisational changes that accompanied the merger of the former Department of Environment and the Department of Transport included new responsibilities for the regions. However, on 31 March 1995 the former Department of the Environment employed 39 lawyers and the former Department of Transport obtained its legal services from the Treasury Solicitors Department, who allocated 29 lawyers for the purpose.
The increase in legal activity over the last five years is due to a variety of factors, including additional work on legislation, human rights and devolution.