asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons employed in the office of the Ombudsman at (a) 1 May 1987 and (b) 1 June 1988.

The number of persons employed in the Office of the Ombudsman (a) on 1 May 1987 was 34 and (b) on 1 June 1988 was 28.

33.

asked the Minister for Finance the (a) grade and (b) number in each grade of staff in the Ombudsman's office who have (1) left or (2) been transferred and (3) promoted, to positions as civil servants of the Government since March 1987 (c) in relation to the vacancies thereby created in each grade the number which have been (1) filled (2) suppressed and (3) left open and (d) the authorised staff complement as at 1 March for the years 1987 and 1988.

(a) and (b): The numbers in each grade of the staff in the Office of the Ombudsman who left, were transferred or promoted to positions as civil servants of the Government since March 1987 are as follows:

(c): In accordance with the Government's consistent policy of reducing the cost of the public service, none of the above vacancies have been filled, although a serving senior investigator is acting as director. The remaining posts have been left open but have not been formally suppressed.

(d): The authorised number of staff on 1 March 1987 was 40. On 1 March 1988 the number serving (which effectively, is the authorised complement) was 28.