HC Deb 22 April 1996 vol 276 cc20-1W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many advisers seconded by the British Government to sub-Saharan Africa are advising on the reorganisation of(a) health services and (b) education services; [25580]

(2) how many advisers seconded by the British Government to sub-Saharan Africa are advising on the reorganisation of (a) police, (b) army and (c) civil service; [25579]

(3) if he will list (a) the number of British advisers presently serving in sub-Saharan Africa, (b) their job description and (c) the length of their contracts. [25583]

Mr. Hanley

The ODA currently employs the following professional advisers in its overseas offices in sub-Saharan Africa:

Professional discipline Number
Health 4
Education 1
Government institutions, including the civil service and the police 1
Others 27

It also employs technical co-operation officers to work on specific programmes and projects. The number of such personnel currently engaged is:

Professional discipline Number
Health 18
Education 24
Government institutions, including the civil service and the police 52
Others 91

In addition to the above, there are 47 military and civilian personnel advising on a range of defence issues deployed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MOD on behalf of the British Government to sub-Saharan Africa.

Individual terms and job descriptions vary widely between discipline, location, programme and project and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The FCO and ODA also contract with consultancy services to provide advisers whose individual contract terms can also be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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