§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many officials there are in his new Directorate for Overseas Construction Exports; how many of them have served either in construction firms or professional partnerships of architects, surveyors or engineers; and how many of them have direct, commercial experience of overseas exports in the construction industry.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Construction Industry Overseas Directorate of my Department is responsible for all aspects of sponsorship of the construction industry and associated professions in an international context. It is not solely concerned with exports, though this668W important subject will be one of its main responsibilities. The present number of officials in the directorate concerned wholly or partly with construction exports is six. All are career civil servants and have not, therefore, served in professional or contracting firms.