§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will outline details of discussions which took place between the Minister for Sport and the interim chair of UK Sport about the suspension of the head of the Drug Free Sport Directorate at UK Sport; and [HL700]
Whether they will publish the minutes of any communications involving the Prime Minister's Office about the suspension of the head of the Drug Free Sport Directorate at UK Sport. [HL701]
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§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)The Government will not be disclosing details of any discussions about the employment of the head of Drug Free Sport. This is in accordance with exemption 8 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information where discussions about public employment are confidential.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect to be in a position to announce a permanent chairman, a new chief executive and a new head of the Drug Free Sport Directorate at UK Sport. [HL702]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe interim chair of UK Sport, Sue Campbell, was appointed in September 2003 for up to 18 months and we do not expect to appoint a permanent chair until her term of office expires. UK Sport intends to commence the recruitment process for a permanent chief executive officer in the near future.
An independent review of the UK's anti-doping arrangements is currently underway. The results will assist UK Sport in determining its staffing requirements, including the post of head of Drug Free Sport.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What sum of money is to be paid to UK Sport's head of the Drug Free Sport Directorate, Michelle Verroken, upon the proposed termination of her contract; and what contractual conditions are due to be placed upon the receipt of such payment. [HL704]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMichelle Verokken's contract of employment with UK Sport has not at this stage been terminated and it would be inappropriate for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to make any further comments at present.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What specific anti-doping expertise the new acting head of the Drug Free Sport Directorate at UK Sport brings to the job. [HL705]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyJohn Scott, UK Sport's Director of International Relations and Major Events, is undertaking the role of acting head of Drug Free Sport. He has considerable experience of anti-doping having been actively involved in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the European Anti-Doping Convention; the creation and negotiation of the International Anti-Doping Agreement, and is one of UK Sport's advisers on international doping matters.
In addition, Mr Scott, during his five years in Canada, was closely involved in the federal government's response to the high profile Ben Johnson case, and the subsequent Dubin inquiry where he was a member of the team that established Canada's national anti-doping agency.
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