HC Deb 14 March 2000 vol 346 cc142-3W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the employees working in embassies overseas paid for by business, indicating in each case(a) the name of the employee, (b) the business providing the financial support, (c) the level of financial support and (d) the embassy. [114421]

Mr. Hain

Since 1979, the FCO has arranged 56 secondments to British diplomatic missions overseas from 40 private sector organisations. In line with HMG's policy of increased interchange with the private sector as part of the Modernising Government agenda, there are at present eight private sector secondees at posts overseas, primarily in the US and the Far East. A further 14 secondments were completed over the last year. These include substantive secondments of up to four years and short-term attachments of 3–6 months under the Short Term Business Attachment Scheme. In all cases, the secondees are bound by Diplomatic Service Regulations relating to conduct and discipline, and are answerable to the head of the diplomatic post at which they are serving.

It would not be appropriate to list the names of individual secondees.

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