12 28. The CPT's request that its Secretariat be reinforced by an additional administrative officer in 1995 was not accepted. In this connection, it is undeniable that the resources of the CPT's Secretariat, in particular at A-grade level, have not fully kept pace with the geographical expansion of the Committee's activities. At present, 5½ A grade officials (1 A5 official on a half-time basis7 and 5 administrative officers) serve a body which is now responsible for organising both periodic and ad hoc visits to places of detention in 29 countries. These staff members are closely involved in all aspects of the Committee's work (the preparation and carrying out of visits, the drawing up of draft visit reports, and the follow-up to visits). This heavy workload is gradually taking its toll in terms of a lengthening gap (currently some four to five years) between periodic visits to a given country and a weakening of the on-going dialogue following a visit. As a result, both the credibility and the effectiveness of the CPT are being put at risk. 29. The CPT is also disappointed that the request that a retainer system be introduced for the members of its Bureau has not yet been accepted. Given the time now devoted by Bureau members to CPT work (not to mention the arduous nature of the on-site element of that work), such a measure is, in the Committee's opinion, fully justified. 30. The CPT recognises that the difficult economic climate inevitably limits the resources which can be placed at the Committee's disposal. It is for this reason that the Committee has always striven to be modest in its budgetary requests. Nevertheless, in the interests of ensuring the proper functioning of the machinery established by the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the CPT hopes that the Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers will be in a position to take positive steps to address the above-mentioned matters. 7 Since February 1995, the staff member in question holds jointly the posts of Secretary of the CPT and Head of Division II (Mass Media and Equality between Women and Men) in the Directorate of Human Rights.