Written question asked by Hugh Bayley (Labour) on Monday, 23 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 November 2009. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 December 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Departmental Scientists

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) scientific advisers and (b) civil servants in scientific posts there are in his Department.

Answer: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has one Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), Professor David Clary FRS, appointed in August 2009. Professor Clary is supported by two civil servants, consisting of the Head of CSA Office and 50 per cent. of a shared Personal Assistant.The joint FCO-Department for Business Innovation and Skills (DBIS) Science and Innovation Network (SIN) has approximately 90 full-time equivalent staff, including locally engaged staff, in 40 cities across 25 countries. Of these, 18 are UK civil servants.SIN officers are scientifically literate staff based in FCO Posts, mainly in countries with the greatest science and innovation activities. They do not necessarily come from a science background. The UK management team for the SIN are based in the International Science and Innovation Unit at DBIS.

Secondary information