§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sums she has allocated in the current financial year and in each of the next three years for(a) the costing and training and (b) early retirements expected to arise from her Department's leadership review. [91050]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 16 January 2003]: £7 million has been allocated over the next three years for the leadership development programme. £429 thousand has been set aside for the current financial year. The profile of expenditure for individual years has yet to be agreed within the Department. The leadership review will combine development and some assessment. Most people who go through the Development Centres will continue to work in Defra, making use of a leadership development programme which will follow up training 101W and development needs identified at the centres. For some, it is expected that the results will encourage them to seek early retirement. To meet that eventuality, £3 million, £7 million and £7 million have been earmarked over the next three financial years respectively. There are no staff reduction targets or estimates of the numbers likely to leave Defra following participation in the leadership development programme.