Departmental Budget

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 3 November 2010.

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Photo of Philip Hollobone Philip Hollobone Conservative, Kettering 11:30, 3 November 2010

Whether she plans to amend the administration and staff costs in her Department's budget for 2010-11.

Photo of Dame Cheryl Gillan Dame Cheryl Gillan The Secretary of State for Wales

My Department's budget for 2010-11 was fixed as part of the comprehensive spending review. On costs within my Department, since taking office I have been exploring ways to find efficiency savings and have already achieved significant savings on rail travel and hotel accommodation.

Photo of Philip Hollobone Philip Hollobone Conservative, Kettering

Does the Secretary of State have any plans to reduce the number of days taken in sick leave by staff in her Department, so that it is the best in the public sector?

Photo of Dame Cheryl Gillan Dame Cheryl Gillan The Secretary of State for Wales

I am not aware that there are different rates of sick leave in my Department from any other, but I will undertake to my hon. Friend to have a look at the records in my Department and return to the point in writing to him.

Photo of Wayne David Wayne David Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)

Given that the Secretary of State's Department does not stand up for Wales, what does it do?

Photo of Dame Cheryl Gillan Dame Cheryl Gillan The Secretary of State for Wales

My Department stands up for Wales, unlike the previous Secretary of State, who stood back from Wales, allowed it to become the poorest nation in the UK and then compared it to Rwanda.