§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will describe the main functions of the industrial development unit in his Department, especially in relation to the industrial strategy.
§ Mr. CryerThe industrial development unit is concerned with selective financial assistance to industry and provides the secretariat for the Industrial Development Advisory Board. The unit appraises major applications for selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972; all applications are examined individually in their industrial context and against the aims of the Government's industrial strategy.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Industry if persons seconded to the industrial development unit in his Department are employed as civil servants and are subject to the usual rules of Civil Service employment, such as restrictions on employment in the area of industry in which their official duties were centred.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThose who are seconded to the industrial development unit are in general subject to Civil Service rules. The normal expectation is that they will return to their parent employer on completion of the period of secondment. If they contemplate taking employment elsewhere they are expected to consult the Department and the Department 361W would have in mind the degree of contact, if any, between the individual in his official duties and the potential employer.