§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the change of leadership role of the "Chairs' Group", set up as part of the Modernising Rural Delivery programme, involves assistance from other staff; and, if so, what is the full time equivalent of (a) civil servants; (b) special advisers; and (c) others, providing such support. [HL148]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)Direct support to the Chairs Group set up to help provide leadership to the Modernising Rural Delivery change programme is provided by English Nature. This amounts to a small part of one person's job. Officials may attend meetings to participate in the discussion but it is not a diversion from their main work. There has been no change in this approach now that we have moved from policy development to the implementation of the Modernising Rural Delivery programme as set out in the Rural Strategy 2004.