§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 1015W investigation officers are employed by her Department; and how many investigation officers were recruited in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [152382]
§ Alun MichaelDefra currently employs 13 Investigation Officers, one Senior Investigation Officer and one Chief Investigation Officer.
The number of Investigation Officers recruited in (a) 2001 was none, (b) 2002 was four, including one casual, and (c) 2003 was two. However, the total number of Officers in the three grades is unchanged since 2001, but one post has been converted from a Senior Investigation Officer to an Investigation Officer.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the purpose and job description of an investigation officer. [152383]
§ Alun MichaelDefra's Investigation Officers work in the Investigation Branch of the Legal Services Directorate General. The overall aim of the Branch is to provide the Department, its agencies, the National Assembly of Wales Agriculture Department and the Forestry Commission with a criminal investigation service of high professional and ethical standards delivered in a manner that is consistent with the law including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
The key duties of an Investigation Officer involve detailed investigation into fraud and irregularities covering a wide range of subjects including animal welfare, cattle identification, tree felling, veterinary medicines, pesticides use and plant health. Officers undertake detailed investigations and prepare cases with a view to prosecution, by Defra's in-house team, where appropriate.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annualised cost to public funds is of her Department's force of investigation officers in 2003–04. [152384]
§ Alun MichaelDefra's Investigation Branch is forecast to spend £481,600 on pay and £103,500 on non-pay running costs in 2003–04.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of(a) the July 2003 recruitment advertisement and (b) the required skills and qualifications for investigation officers. [152385]
§ Alun MichaelCopies of the 2003 recruitment advertisement for Investigation Officers, and the accompanying information pack that contained details of the required skills and qualifications have been placed in the Library of the House.