HC Deb 28 July 2000 vol 354 cc1102-3W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) of 28 February 2000,Official Report, column 100W, concerning secondments, if he will give the names, grades and job titles of the staff seconded into his Department from each organisation mentioned, stating in each case the name of the section they were seconded to and a summary of the work that they were involved with. [128240]

Mr. Chris Smith

[holding answer 29 June 2000]: I regret that the information given in my answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) was slightly incomplete. I am pleased now to be able to provide a more detailed response.

In my Department, secondments and attachments 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 interest arises.

All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out.

Secondees from the following organisations have worked in my Department since May 1992:

  • from Trench Farrow & Partners as Project Director to British Library from 3 July 1995 to 31 December 1998;
  • From Forte plc (changed to Roy Tutty Associates in August 1997) to assist Tourism Division from February 1995 to October 1998;
  • from the British Phonographic Industry to assist the Media Division from 1 April 1998 to date.
  • from Gardner Merchant to assist Tourism Division from January 1999 to January 2000.
  • from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society to assist the Media Division from 1 March 1999 to date.
  • from Manchester City Council to assist the Sports and Recreation Division from 11 January 2000 to date.
  • from the Youth Sports Trust to assist the Sport and Recreation Division since 7 February 2000 to date.