§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were employed in each of the Government offices for the regions in(a) 2003–04 and (b) each of the last three years; and how many are budgeted for the next year. [164808]
349W
§ Yvette CooperThe number of staff working in Government offices has increased as more Departments have devolved more work to be carried out in the regions. The figures for February 2004 and in each of the last three years are as follows:
Staff Employed in the Government Offices for the Regions GO Region February 2004 March 2003 March 2002 March 2001 GO South East 327 277 274 239 GO South West 344 309 294 248 GO London 321 282 258 280 GO North West 356 351 340 377 GO North East 325 296 267 258 GO East Midlands 281 277 253 221 GO West Midlands 318 301 286 289 GO East 268 235 190 172 GO Yorkshire and the Humber
310 283 267 255 Total 2,850 2,611 2,429 2,339 The figures for 2001–04 include all permanent, casual and fixed term appointments who were in post in the Government offices, but exclude those on secondment, career break, maternity leave or special leave without pay. The figure given in my answer of 26 January for staff then in post in the Government office for north-east should have been 322. Staffing in the Government offices for 2004–05 has been budgeted to cover the same number of staff as are currently employed.