Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Rob Wilson (Conservative). It was answered by Lord Prescott (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 May 2006 on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office Staff

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many staff will be working in his new office.

Answer: As the House will be aware, that very much depends on the role of the Deputy Prime Minister, which varies under different Prime Ministers and Governments. I will have the support of a private office, a secretariat and the Cabinet Office, as is relevant to my role. The Prime Minister today announced the responsibilities that are being given to me in my role as Deputy Prime Minister. Those details are available in the Library of the House. ““I think the Prime Minister felt that I was able to play a role—a more central role—in Government than I could have done when I had a huge Department to run, and was deeply involved in the day-to-day activities of a Department. If I was to play a more central role then I think it was understandable that I would be removed from front-line administration of one of Whitehall’s largest Departments and that is what happened.”” That is not my description of the Deputy Prime Minister’s role; it is Lord Heseltine’s description when he appeared before a Committee of this House in 1996. I think that it is right and I endorse his interpretation of the role

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 446 c979; 71279
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Lead
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Office Staff
Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Written questions
House of Commons; Office Staff
Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Departmental responsibilities Civil servants Staff Deputy Prime Minister Departmental coordination Cabinet Office Cabinet committees
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk