§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service what was the level of interchange between the Civil Service and outside organisations in 1988.
§ Mr. LuceMy Department's report on the interchange of staff between the Civil Service and other organisations in 1988 shows that the number of long-term secondments144W —that is, those of at least three months' duration—between the Civil Service and industrial or commercial organisations increased by 7 per cent. in 1988 to 505. There was a slight decrease—of some 3 per cent.—in the number of long-term secondments between the Civil Service and other organisations, of which there were 499 in 1988.
On 1 March 1989, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I launched the Bridge programme to increase contact between Government and business. I am confident that, building on the substantial level of interchange achieved in recent years, this programme will provide a valuable boost to secondments and lead to even higher numbers of people being seconded between the Civil Service and other organisations.
A copy of the 1988 interchange report has been placed in the Library of the House.