§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department and its agencies were seconded from the(a)private and (b)academic sector in each of the last three years. [174819]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe number of private sector secondees working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies in each of the last three years was as follows:
Number 2001–02 123 2002–03 87 2003–04 72 The majority of the secondees were brought in as business experts to work in UK Trade and Investment. They help UK companies develop their business overseas, and overseas companies invest in the UK.
The FCO has not seconded any staff from the academic sector in the last three years.