HC Deb 21 May 2004 vol 421 cc1278-9W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which former officials of the Department have asked for permission to join(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers,(b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG. [156901]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since that date there have been no requests from former officials seeking permission to join Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young and KPMG.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what secondments(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG has made to his Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from his Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks. [156930]

Yvette Cooper

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since that date there has been one inward secondment from PricewaterhouseCoopers, and none from the other organisations specified. The inward secondee, working in Local Government Efficiency Unit, started work in September 2001 and their secondment ended on 31 March 2004.

No staff from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been seconded to any of the organisations specified.

Secondments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. Before an Interchange can occur all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interests arises.