asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of staff employed by local planning authorities on development planning and control work; what is the total number of staff employed by his Department on planning work, including appeals; and how many in each case are qualified chartered town and country planners.

The number of staff employed by local planning authorities on town and country planning in September 1977 as indicated in the latest Job Manpower Watch Survey was approximately 1,650. The number of qualified chartered town and country planners is not readily available. The corresponding numbers employed by the Welsh Office are 76 and 13.