§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment. [123426]
§ Ms Beverley HughesSecondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. 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.
From May 1997 to April 1998The following numbers of staff were seconded to private sector companies:One Grade 5 officer to Tarmac Ltd. for a period of one year five monthsOne Grade 3 officer to SBC Warburg for two yearsOne Grade 6 (on temporary promotion) to Capita RAS for one year seven monthsFrom May 1998 to April 1999No new secondees—continuation of the above secondments onlyFrom May 1999 to April 2000No new secondees to private sector organisations.