asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the proposed reductions in the number of civil servants employed in his Department; and what reductions so far have been carried out.

Between 1 May 1979 and 1 April 1980 the number of permanent staff in the Welsh Office fell by 132 (or around 5 per cent.) to 2,481. Further staffing reductions equivalent to about 7 per cent. in financial terms and about 160 in staffing terms are envisaged by 1982–83, although it is not possible to give a precise staffing figure. This will depend upon the balance of the grades affected by the reductions.