Mr. Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the employment of Miss Anne Bullen as his diarysecretary was terminated; and for what reasons. [26186]Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors led to the dismissal of his DiarySecretary. [26315]Mr. Robin Cook: Miss. Anne Bullen was a political appointment by a previous Foreign Secretary.I reluctantly came to the conclusion that Miss Bullen's fixed-term contract should not be renewed when it became evident that Icould have no confidence in her, and that she was unwilling to develop a relationship of trust with me. The performance of mypresent Diary Secretary is exemplary and she has my full confidence.Miss Anne Bullen ceased to work as my Diary Secretary on 27 June. She was not paid compensation, but continued to draw her salaryfor the unexpired period of her contract which ran out on 7 November.