§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) full time equivalents were employed by his press office and (b) secondees were placed in his press office in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [70547]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 22 July 2002]: (a) The number of full-time officers working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Press Office (News Department) over the last 5 years was:
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 23 23 20 (3 slots vacant) 19 (4 slots vacant) 29 (b) No records are kept of the number of short term secondees for the last five years.