§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) police officers and (b) civil servants have been seconded to work with the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland. [85885]
§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth[holding answer 9 December 2002]I have been asked to reply.
Recruitment of staff for the Northern Ireland branch of the Assets Recovery Agency is in hand for it to begin operations, as planned, in February 2003. One civil servant has been seconded from the Northern Ireland Office to assist the project manager. These local staff are supported by the national implementation programme team in London. Further appointments, including that of the Agency's Northern Ireland Assistant Director, will be made shortly.