HC Deb 01 February 2002 vol 379 cc585-6W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the roles are of each member of staff within his Department with(a) total or (b) partial responsibility for policy on the railways, (i) as of June 1997, (ii) as of May 2001 and as of January 2002. [31524]

Mr. Jamieson

It is neither customary nor practicable to publish individual civil servants' job descriptions.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes (1) have taken place since June 2001 in the(a) role, (b) organisation, (c) structures and (d) staff numbers and roles of the Railway Directorate within his Department; and if he will make a statement; [31526]

(2) in the (a) role and (b) terms of reference of the Railway Directorate within his Department have taken place since May 1997; what changes are planned; and what consultations on changes (i) have taken place since June 2001 and (ii) are planned. [31527]

Mr. Jamieson

In October 2001, the Department's Railways Directorate was divided into two units: the Rail Delivery Directorate and the Railways Restructuring Directorate. The division reflected the increase and refocusing of work following the placing of Railtrack plc into administration on 7 October. There was no public consultation on the change.

In June 2001, 57 people worked in the Railways Directorate. Seventy-nine people now work in the two directorates.