Written question asked by Jon Trickett (Labour) on Thursday, 27 October 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 October 2011. It was answered by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 November 2011 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Departmental Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in his Department; and if he will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010.

Answer: The booklet HMG Personnel Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office website at:"www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls"describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks.It is not appropriate to confirm which specific posts or post holders within a Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who within a Department has access to sensitive material and be used for hostile targeting of individuals.Since November 2010 the post of head of communications is held by James Helm, succeeding James Hardy. Since May 2010 the deputy head of communications is Deborah Hermer, and the head of news is Charlotte Morgan.

Secondary information