asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the effect of the reorganisation of local government on the number of civil servants at Government level in Edinburgh deal- ing with local government affairs; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to distinguish among members of the Scottish Office staff according to their involvement with local government affairs; yet it is relevant to note that, within the Scottish Development Department, the Scottish Education Department and the Scottish Office Finance Division—whose staff are concerned primarily with local government matters—the number of staff in post fell by about 60 between 1st June 1975 and 1st October this year.