§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many people are employed in(a) the devolution and English regions division and (h) the international and policy division of the central policy group; what the cost of each was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [99887]
932W(2) if he will make a statement on the purposes of the Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group; how many people there are in the Group; and where it is based. [99886]
§ Mr. LeslieThe Devolution and Constitution Division and the International and Central Policy Divisions form part of the Central Strategy and Resources Directorate in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. A total of 24 people are employed and are based in 26 Whitehall. From July 2001 to June 2002 they formed the Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group in the Cabinet Office. The Devolution and Constitution Division oversees the relationship between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations; the International and Central Policy Division works across the Department on a range of international, regional and domestic policies, and a number of corporate issues, and provides advice to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and other Ministers and officials.
In their current form the divisions have only been in operation since the creation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2002. Therefore there are no comparative figures yet available which cover a full financial year.