§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total amount of private sector payments made to Her Majesty's Government for staff working(a) in and (b) in conjunction with British embassies in each of the last three years. [114314]
§ Mr. HainNo payments or fees have been made by private sector companies to Her Majesty's Government in respect of staff serving at British diplomatic missions.
In a few cases, however, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes recoveries from companies in respect of actual expenditure incurred on their behalf by posts on, for example, accommodation, utilities, telecommunications, postage and local support staff costs.
Total recoveries for the last three years were:
£ 1997–98 276,072 1998–99 299,328 1999–2000 274,090
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which companies make payments to Her Majesty's Government in relation to staff connected to British embassies. [114313]
§ Mr. HainUK companies do not make payments for such secondments but in a few cases the Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes recoveries in respect of certain items of administrative expenditure.
Since 1979, the FCO has arranged 56 secondments to British diplomatic missions overseas from 40 private sector companies. 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, with a further 14 secondments having been completed over the last year. These include substantive secondments of up to four years, and short-term attachments of three to six months under the Short Term Business Attachment Scheme.
224WIn 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.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used for issuing diplomatic credentials to private sector employees seconded to work in British embassies. [114312]
§ Mr. HainAll diplomatic staff working in British Missions overseas, whether they are public servants or seconded from the private sector, are accorded diplomatic status if it is required to enable them to carry out their official duties, in line with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the personnel seconded or released by private sector companies to work in British embassies who are currently accorded diplomatic status. [114311]
§ Mr. HainThere are at present eight private sector secondees at British diplomatic missions overseas who hold diplomatic passports. Four are on substantive secondments of up to four years, and the others are on short-term attachments of 3–6 months under the Short Term Business Attachment Scheme. All 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 individual secondees by name.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the private companies who pay Her Majesty's Government a fee for the placement of an employee in a trade support position in a British diplomatic post; if he will list each occurrence of such an arrangement, including payments made; and if he will make a statement on Government policy on such business-to-Government agreements at diplomatic posts. [114155]
§ Mr. HainPrivate sector companies do not pay fees to HMG for the placement of their employees in British diplomatic missions overseas. HMG's policy is to increase interchange between the private sector and all British Government Departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Secondment programmes have been running since 1979 and present activity is an important part of the Modernising Government agenda. The programmes represent a valuable two-way sharing of expertise between the public and private sectors.