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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. [138624] Alun Michael: Since the creation of Defra in June 2001, the Department has seconded personnel from both the public and private sectors as follows: 15 in the period June 2001 to March 2002 19 in the period April 2002 to March 2003 21 in the period April 2003 to date. The majority have been seconded from organisations from science and technology sectors. In addition, the Department has provided for opportunity and experience postings from its Laboratory Agencies and the Research Councils, of varying durations, to work on science and technology matters, such as the development of science policy and strategies. Data is not held centrally. Finally, the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Howard Dalton, FRS, was appointed on secondment from Warwick university in 2001 and is working on a range of continuing professional development issues, including secondments into and out of the Department. Defra is committed to playing its part in developing a modern, flexible, outward focused Civil Service that works in partnership with all sectors of society. Interchange is seen as a key tool in meeting this commitment. Defra continues to promote and encourage the interchange of personnel between the Department and a range of organisations to help fulfil its business objectives.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

138624; 413 c1243W;413 c1239-40W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Civil servants Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Government departments Technology Secondment Science

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk