§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the nature of the contractual appointment of a BNFL employee as the atomic energy counsellor in the British Embassy in Japan; what payment is made annually by BNFL in respect of this appointment; and when the arrangements with BNFL covering this embassy post were agreed. [114084]
§ Mr. HainThe appointment of a BNFL employee on secondment to the post of Atomic Energy Counsellor at the British Embassy in Tokyo is in line with the usual contractual arrangements for such secondments. These are that he functions as a fully integrated member of the Embassy, works solely to objectives set by the Government, is bound by Diplomatic Service Regulations relating to conduct and discipline, and is answerable to the Ambassador and ultimately my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.
There is no payment to the FCO in respect of this appointment, but BNFL does meet the costs associated with it. These are around £500,000 annually. This arrangement has been in place for 33 years and was last reviewed with BNFL upon the appointment of the present incumbent in 1997.