HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 cc535-6W
Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) special advisers, (b) press officers, (c) civil servants, (d) advisers to civil servants and (e) permanent staff were working for her Department in each year since 1996. [126481]

Alun Michael:

Defra came into being in June 2001 and the following information relates to the period since then.

(a) The Secretary of State has two Special Advisors.

The Department employs an Environmental Advisor, who reports to the Director for Environment Protection Strategy.

Ewen Cameron, who is also Chair of the Countryside Agency, is the Rural Advocate, arguing the case on countryside issues and for rural people at the highest levels in Government and outside. While this role has no formal line of accountability, Sir Ewen works closely with me as Minister of State for Rural Affairs on a range of issues of rural proofing and also has access to the Secretary of State and other senior members of Government.

Dr. Chris Fay holds the title Emissions Trading Champion. Reporting to the Director for Climate, Energy and Environmental Risk, he assisted the Government in recruiting participants to the UK's voluntary Emissions Trading Scheme launched in April 2002, and plays a role in communicating with business on emissions trading issues.

Lord Haskins acted as Rural Recovery Co-ordinator during the latter part of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. His role was to help local authorities and other agencies plan for the economic recovery of Cumbria, and to consider what lessons were also applicable to other areas affected by the outbreak. Lord Haskins began work on 14 August 2001 and reported to me in October 2001.

(b) When Defra was established in June 2001 there were 19 press officer posts. In March 2002 there were 20, in May 2002 there were 22 and as at September 2003 there are 20 press officer posts. These figures include the post of Head of News but not that of Director of Communications.

(c) and (e) This information is available in Table C of the annual publication Civil Service Statistics, which covers permanent staff numbers in each department and agency from 1996 to 2002. Copies of the publication are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The latest edition, based on April 2002 data, was published on 24 July 2003. The figures will include press officers, although they are not separately identified. The total number of permanent and casual civil servants on both a head-count and a full-time equivalent basis at 1 April 2002 is available in Table A of Civil Service Statistics. Full-time equivalents are preferred to head-counts when examining trends over time. Also, the number of permanent staff is preferred as a basis when looking at trends as casual staff numbers reflect short-term responses to changes in workloads.

Alternatively, this information is available at the following address on the Cabinet Office's website: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/css.htm.

(d) The term "advisers to civil servants" is not one that is recognised.