HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc1417-9W
Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. [138627]

Ms Hewitt

I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the number of civil servants from her Department seconded to(a) the private sector, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) other bodies, since May, broken down by (i) organisation, (ii) grade of civil servant and (iii) start and completion dates. [139160]

Ms Hewitt

[holding answer 18 November 2003]: From records held centrally in my Department, the information requested is as follows.

Civil servants that have been seconded from the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 2003 (total 16)
Organisation Grade of civil servant Start date Expected completion date
(a) To the private sector (total 5)
Resource Range 6(EO) 1 May 2003 1 October 2004
BP Fast stream 9 June 2003 8 December 2003

Total resource for UK subscription to CERN
£million
2005–6 72.1
2006–7 72.1
2007–8 72.1

In addition, the UK is supporting the construction and operation of a number of experiments at CERN as part of its domestic particle physics budget. The total resource allocated to this over the previous five years and the projected figures for 2003–4 to 2005–06 are shown below.

Civil servants that have been seconded from the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 2003 (Total 16)
Organisation Grade of civil servant Start date Expected completion date
Impax Capital Corporation Ltd. Range 10 (Grade 7) 13 October 2003 14 October 2005
BNPL Range 10(Grade 7) 27 October 2003 4 April 2004
BT Range 8(HEO) 10 November 2003 6 August 2004
(b) To non-governmental organisation (total 4)
London Development Agency Fast Stream 12 May 2003 13 May 2005
Advantage West Midlands Range 6(EO) 15 September 2003 14 September 2004
East midlands Development Agency Senior Civil Servant 22 September 2003 23 September 2005
Scottish Enterprise Range 8(HEO) 16 October 2003 1 October 2005
(c) To other bodies(total 7)
Australian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development Range 10(Grade 7) 5 May 2003 10 August 2004
British Standards Institution Range 9(SEO) 30 May 2003 30 May 2006
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Range 6(EO) 15 September 2003 16 September 2005
Financial Reporting Council Range 11(Grade 6) 15 September 2003 31 March 2004
Financial Reporting Council Range 11(Grade 6) 22 September 2003 31 March 2004

Civil servants that have been seconded from the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 2003(total 16)
Organisation Grade of civil servant Start date Expected completion date
Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry Range 10(Grade 7) 13 October 2003 30 January 2004
Gateway to London Range 10(Grade7) 3 November 2003 3 November 2005

In addition to the above figures, since 1 May 2003, 19 DTI senior civil servants have completed a "Week in Business". 15 completed their week in the private sector, two in non-governmental organisations and two in other bodies.

The aim of the "Week in Business" short term external attachment scheme is to help the Department to become more outward facing with a greater understanding of the issues facing our external stakeholders. It is also key in helping members of the SCS to gain experience of different ways of working so that good practice can be adopted internally.

The scheme is also a means of promoting the DTI to our external customers and making them more aware of how the Department operates and what we can offer.