§ 71. Mr. ButlerTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service what targets he has set for secondments into and out of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. LuceI no longer set central targets for secondments. That is now a matter for individual Departments, which will be implementing new programmes for interchange with business over the next few years. I hope that their effect will be to enhance significantly the overall number of secondments between the Civil Service and other organisations.
§ Mr. ButlerDoes my right hon. Friend agree that civil servants would benefit from some experience of the problems of small businesses? Will he encourage secondments to small businesses for civil servants?
§ Mr. LuceI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interest in this matter. Without any shadow of a doubt, I can say yes, we shall try to encourage greater secondment to small businesses. I am also trying to encourage secondment from regional and local offices, aimed particularly at smaller businesses. In that way we can help. The recent White Paper, "Releasing Enterprise" gives particular emphasis to that.