asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what staff and administrative reductions he has achieved in the various Departments of the Scottish Office since 3 May 1979.

Between 1 May 1979, the nearest date to 3 May for which figures are readily available, and 1 January 1980, the staff in post in the Scottish Office Departments reduced by 326 as follows:

Department	Reduction in staff
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland	44
Scottish Development Department	73
Scottish Education Department	28
Scottish Economic Planning Department	8
Scottish Home and Health Department	64
Central Services	109

In the same period, staff of the Scottish prison service increased by 66 and there was no change in the number of staff at the State hospital, Carstairs.There has been some minor reduction of administrative functions, but the reduction

The information requested is as follows:of the functions of the Scottish Office resulting from the Government's review of the size and cost of the Civil Service will take place in the period up to the financial year 1982–83.