Three into one would go?

I suppose in the wake of last week's result, this was inevitable:

MPs have suggested merging the UK government departments responsible for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.


A report by a Commons committee recommends a "serious look" at the Whitehall arrangements for the three devolved nations.

Devolution has removed most of the powers from the job (of the Welsh Office) and its counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

A counter-argument could run that it is the three Offices which are helping to curb the more extreme tendencies of the Devocrats, but it is the staffing figures which are most interesting:

The Wales Office employs 60 staff, the Scottish Office 100 and the Northern Ireland Office 110.

The NIO really needs double the amount of their counterparts in Wales?