Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Wilcox (Conservative) on Monday, 23 January 2012.

Export and Re-export Control

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the current members of the Management Team of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; when each was appointed; on how many occasions the Management Team has discussed (a) the issue of export controls, and (b) the Re-export Controls Bill [HL], at each meeting held since June 2001; with what results; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the note of each meeting held in which these issues were discussed.

Answer: The Management Team of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) consists of the Permanent Secretary and Director Generals. The current members and their appointment dates can be found on the department website in their biographies: http://www.bis.gov.uk/about/management-team. Since the department was formed in June 2009, the Management Team have discussed the issue of export controls once. The minutes of this discussion, which formed the basis of a submission to a Minister, will not be provided as to do so would be likely to prejudice the free and frank nature of the advice that Ministers receive from officials. It is in the public interest that officials are able to provide balanced and, where necessary, extensive briefing to ensure that Ministers are able to fully respond to questions and discharge properly their duties to account for Government policy to Parliament. If the content of briefings to Ministers and discussion of current policy issues were released, officials would be more circumspect in drafting such briefing and Ministers' ability to respond to questions would be compromised as a result. The BIS Management Team have not discussed the Re-Export Controls Bill.

Secondary information