§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff are employed in the Department, broken down by work category. [185375]
§ Mr. LammyThe Department does not hold information broken down by work category. However, data on staffing levels in the civil service are collected from Departments and agencies twice-yearly, in April and October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2003 were published on 22 April 2004. A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is mailable on the World Wide Web at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/news/2004/040422_ latest_asp/ these documents are also placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
187WMore detailed information on the civil service is published annually in 'Civil Service Statistics', copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The last edition, based on April 2002 data, was published in July 2003. The next edition, based on April 2003 data, is due to be published at the end of July 2004.
The Cabinet Office publishes information on non-departmental public bodies in its annual publication `Public Bodies'. The information includes details of the number of staff employed by each NDPB at 31 March each year. 'Public Bodies 2003' was published in 16 July 2003. Copies of 'Public Bodies' published each year since 1997 are available in the Libraries of both Houses. http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agenciespublicbodies.
§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the reasons are for changes in staff numbers in(a) the Department, (b) the National Archives and (c) the Northern Ireland Court Service between 1998–99 and 2003–04. [185373]
§ Mr. LammyThe reasons for changes in staff numbers between 1998–99 and 2003–04 for the following are:
(a) The Department for Constitutional Affairs
During the period we recruited an extra 700 staff to support the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) and its work of processing asylum appeals.
We have also seen an increase in the Court Service due to an increase in workload including sitting days.
(b) The National Archives
Changes in staff numbers in the National Archives are due to the increase in service provision to the public and Government Departments.
(c) Northern Ireland Court Service
Staff numbers in the Northern Ireland Court Service have changed between 1998–99 (628 stall) and 2003–04 (757 staff) as a direct response to delivering the Government's agenda to modernise the delivery of justice. This included responding to the recommendations of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Review which significantly reforms criminal justice in Northern Ireland. Other influencing factors include the Court Service's modernisation programme which will enhance the delivery of frontline services.