§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are employed directly by his Department; how many were employed on 1 July 1999; and how he expects these figures to vary in coming years. [133123]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Wales Office currently employs 42.5 staff directly. One member of staff is a part-timer. The Department also employs a further four casual staff who are supplied by an employment agency.
On 1 July 1999, the first day of its existence, the Wales Office employed 27.5 staff.
I have no current plans to increase or decrease the current staffing levels, but it is not possible to foresee how things may develop in the years ahead.