§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the professional and other qualifications of the principal finance officer and principal establishment officer for his Department.
§ Mr. PattieThe main qualification is proven ability demonstrated by a consistent record of achievement in finance, management, and other relevant areas of defence.
Specifically, the present principal finance officer has spent about half of his career in posts dealing with estimates, long term costings, equipment finance, and financial policy, including service in Her Majesty's Treasury. The present principal establishment officer in addition to previous industrial experience, has spent some six years of his Ministry of Defence career in appointments in the civilian management field, covering both industrial and non-industrial staff concerns. He has also had practical experience of staff management in a wide variety of areas in the Department.
Both the principal finance officer and the principal establishment officer are graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies and have attended a wide range of other training courses during their careers. They have also both had the valuable additional experience of serving in the Cabinet Office, the private offices of Ministers, and a variety of defence policy posts.