COST OF THE SCOTLAND OFFICE

Motion Text

That this House deplores that the operating costs of the Scotland Office have soared from ú3.9 million in 1999/2000 to ú7.3 million in 2002/02, and that staff numbers have doubled from 57 to 113 over the same period; believes that these resources would be far better used by the Scottish Parliament in delivering health and education services in Scotland instead of being wasted on Westminster bureaucracy; and notes the views of the honourable Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne North in the Sunday Times of 20th January, in relation to the Scottish Secretary, that 'It follows from devolution that you can't, in the long term, sustain a separate Secretary of State.'.