asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new staff it is intended to recruit to the Scottish Office in 1980–81, and of what grades; and to which sub-departments they will be assigned.

I cannot give the information requested until I have considered in more detail the incidence of the staff reductions which are to be made in the Scottish Office. When staff are recruited, they are assigned to the Scottish Office and their deployment is dictated by the needs of the departments in it.