HC Deb 14 January 1997 vol 288 c208W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name each person seconded to the Crown Agents in each year since 1979 indicating the company involved. [10669]

Dr. Liam Fox

For particular projects, Crown Agents make use of staff seconded from Government Departments such as HM Customs and Excise and, less often, from firms in the private sector. However, I am advised by the Crown Agents that information is not available in a form to answer the hon. Lady's general question. If there is a specific question about particular projects or firms, the Crown Agents will do their best to answer it.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which performance targets the managing director of the Crown Agents met in 1995; what performance related bonus he received; and what factors underlay the payment or non-payment of performance-related pay. [10668]

Dr. Fox

In 1995, the managing director of the Crown Agents was eligible for a performance-related salary bonus based on criteria related to levels of profitability, cost control and the ratio of costs to fee income for the year. In the event, no bonus was payable for 1995; the main factor underlying this was a lower than budgeted profit.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who represents the Crown Agents in(a) Iran, (b) the Gulf States and (c) Oman; what criteria were used in their selection; and what services they offer. [10670]

Dr. Fox

The Crown Agents' local agents in the countries named are listed in its report and accounts for 1995, copies of which are in the Library. The Crown Agents have since also appointed Transgulf Shipping as an agent in the United Arab Emirates. The representative services provided include inspection, shipping, freight forwarding, cargo handling and courier services in relation to Crown Agents' services in the region. The firms concerned were selected by Crown Agents on the basis of their capabilities in the relevant services.