Host(s): Doris Crockford Program: Late Night News with Doris Crockford
Interview with Sylvester Quilt, Minister Lestrange's press secretary
Doris Crockford: Doris Crockford here with Interview with Sylvester Quilt, Minister Lestrange's press secretary, to discuss the ongoing Ministry's reshuffle. Good evening, Mr Quilt.
Sylvester Quilt: Evening, Doris. Please, call me Sly.
DC: I wouldn't dare, sir. The Ministry reshuffle was one of the first announcements made by Minister Lestrange, almost immediately after he was sworn in. It is clearly one of his topmost priorities. How is it progressing?
SQ: Excellent, despite being pressed back after the dreadful attacks on London. The Department of International Cooperation has been a bit more challenging because there are a few international trials taking place that cannot be interrupted during due process. Many preliminary things have been started already for the few departments remaining between Magical Cooperation and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which will certainly be our biggest undertaking.
DC: So far the Department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures and the Department of Magical Games and Sports are the only ones completed. What was the reaction within the Ministry to the changes made?
SQ: Quite positive. The changes have been quite effective in making departmental processes more efficient and much less convoluted. We're making everyone's job easier, how could that be met with much complaint?
DC: The Official Gobstones Club staff might, for one. Their fundraising tournament raised enough money to ensure their survival this year, but will they need to move out of their Ministry office?
SQ: They've been offered a reasonable rate to rent for the office they were already using, without, of course, Ministry association. The funding is unfortunately not there given the overwhelming costs brought on by Britain's many quidditch-related ventures.
DC: Are such budget cuts to be expected in the remaining departments?
SQ: Yes and no. Certainly the majority of our attention will be directed to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, so Minister Lestrange is saving galleons where possible, certainly. Aside from the Official Gobstones Club, no other Ministry employees have been let go, and they will not be, least not until the restructuring takes on the DMLE, at least. But that's another situation altogether, and one that I will not make further comment on for the time being.
DC: No job loss until reaching the DMLE, but you will not comment any further? This is sure to worry DMLE staff; aren't you concerned by it? Those are the people fighting the war that Minister Lestrange also promised, in the same speech where he announced the reshuffle, to win by the time Hogwarts let out. With only a few weeks left to this timeline, does the Minister regret not taking on the DMLE reshuffle at the start?
SQ: Likely they've been worried all along, given Minister Lestrange also stated in the beginning that requirements for working within the Ministry will be changing. And the DMLE have made excellent progress against You-Know-Who and his followers. We certainly do not regret our decision. The DMLE will take the most time and effort, and much of personal performance will be judged on what has been happening to end the war since Minister Lestrange's inauguration.
DC: When will the new requirements for working within the Ministry be announced? Will it come once the reshuffle is completed?
SQ: It will first be circulated within the DMLE, and will be released to the general public shortly after.
DC: Will those new requirements only apply to DMLE staff, and not the entire Ministry?
SQ: The entire Ministry. Obviously the requirements will vary based on each department, but many will be transferable.
DC: What is the Minister's timeline for the remaining departments' reshuffle and the new employment requirements? Will it be all done by the time summer vacation rolls around, and staff numbers reduce?
SQ: We are aiming to have everything completed by late June so as to devote the summer to other ventures, particularly the development and proposing of more legislation as that passed within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creature several weeks ago.
DC: The Wizengamot required this new legislation tightening control on werewolves and centaurs to be reviewed by the DMLE before it would come into force. Has the DMLE approved it? It is in effect now?
SQ: There were a few tweaks and a second review by the Wizengamot, but yes, it is now in effect. It will take a little more work by the DRMC to get the ball rolling on what will now be required by werewolves. We're hoping to have everything implemented by July.
DC: Can you expand on what were the "few tweaks" made to the bill?
SQ: It has been decided that centaurs require no addition registration or regulation. Everything else remains the same.
DC: Why had they been included in the first version of the bill? It had gone unnoticed by many, werewolves a more immediate worry for most commentators.
SQ: The regulations in the original bill for centaurs were unrelated to those set for werewolves. It was merely a property stipulation.
DC: Thank you for this precision. This is unfortunately all the time we have, but I look forward to meeting again soon to discuss the reshuffling of the Department of International Cooperation, and the remaining departments afterward. Would you like to add anything to conclude, Mr Quilt?
SQ: Can't say that I do, Doris. Always a pleasure.
DC: Thank you for your visit, the pleasure is all mine. This is Doris Crockford for the WWN. Have a good evening!