§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the(a) research and (b) initiatives related to rural issues being undertaken by her Department. [123398]
§ Marjorie MowlamMy role as Chair of the Cabinet Committees for rural affairs involves co-ordinating the work of other Departments, but I have no direct responsibility for rural policy. For this reason, it is for DETR, MAFF and others as appropriate to commission research or undertake projects on specific rural issues.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff employed by her Department specialise in rural issues; and what percentage this represents of the total number of staff in her Department. [123396]
§ Marjorie MowlamNo staff in the Cabinet Office work exclusively on rural affairs. Some staff in the Cabinet Secretariat support me in my role as Chair of the Cabinet Committee on rural affairs, but they have other responsibilities as well. Officials elsewhere, principally in MAFF and DETR, support their Ministers and me on specific rural issues.