§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) who communicated to Mr. Alun Evans the decision to move him from his duties; and when this was done; [8105]
(2) what representations have been made by Alun Evans' trade union about the circumstance surrounding the decision to remove him from his duties; [8106]
(3) if he will reinstate Alun Evans to his duties as Director of Communications of his Department; [8108]
(4) if Miss Jo Moore's contract as special adviser at his Department was her only employment contract as at 1 October; [8109]
(5) when Sir Richard Mottram was informed of the Secretary of State's verbal reprimand of Jo Moore, special adviser; [8110]
(6) what the division of responsibility and powers is between himself and the Permanent Secretary to move staff and vary duties within his Department;[8111]
(7) who, in addition to Alun Evans, Director of Information at his Department, received the recently published e-mail from Miss Jo Moore of 11 September; [8112]
(8) for what reason and at whose request Alun Evans, Director of Communication at his Department, was moved from his duties; [8113]
92W(9) who took the decision to move Alun Evans, Director of Communication at his Department, from his duties; and who had previously been consulted prior to the decision;[8114]
(10) what information Miss Jo Moore requested Alun Evans, Director of Communications at the Department of Transport, to release to the media during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September about (i) Bob Kiley, London Transport Commissioner and (ii) the manner in which the report of London Underground commissioned by Parsons Brinckerhoff had been prepared and drafted; and if he will make a statement;[8115]
(11) what the salary is of Alun Evans, until recently Director of Communications at his Department; [8116]
(12) what the salary of his adviser Miss Jo Moore is; and what are the contractual hours worked;[8117]
(13) what duties Alun Evans, the former Director of Communication at his Department, will fulfil on 17 October.[8118]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 17 October 2001]: The Permanent Secretary is responsible to me for ensuring that the Department is effectively and efficiently organised and staffed. He does so within the framework of the rules governing civil service recruitment and promotion. The Permanent Secretary is responsible for discussing with senior staff their career development and timing of moves from one appointment to another. No representations have been made by any trade union in connection with Mr. Evans's move.
When Mr. Evans took up appointment as Director of Communication it was envisaged that he would move back into policy work in the civil service in due course. This he has now done. He has taken up post, working with Dr. Iain Anderson as head of the secretariat on his inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak.
Ms Moore had asked an information officer to make the media aware that there was a document which showed that one of Mr. Kiley's assistants had proposed changes to a draft report by consultants, Parsons Brinckerhoff, about controlling standards of workmanship and safety-related activities of infrastructure companies under the anticipated London Underground Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts. The proposed changes were intended to make the report more critical of the PPP. The Department did not in the event release the document.
My noble and learned Friend the Minister for housing, planning and regeneration drew attention to this document in answer to a question on 24 July 2001, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 1845–48.
Salaries of Board members were published in the 1999–2000 Resource Accounts of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Cm 5054), a copy of which is in the Library.
I informed the Permanent Secretary of my personal reprimand on 9 October. Under the Department's disciplinary procedures the Permanent Secretary has given Ms Moore an official warning as to her conduct. She has made a statement in which she has accepted responsibility for her actions and offered a sincere apology.
93WMs Moore works 26 hours a week as a special adviser. This is currently her only contract of employment. It is the Government's policy that details of individual salaries for special advisers should remain confidential.
Ms Moore's e-mail of 11 September was originally addressed to Alun Evans and Robin Mortimer and copied to Dan Corry.