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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) membership, (b) previous positions held by members, (c) terms of employment, (d) responsibilities, (e) line management and (f) funding of (i) the Coalition Information Centre and (ii) the Iraq Communications Committee; and what access each is given to intelligence and security information. [122685] Mr. Rammell: The Coalition Information Centre (CIC) was based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and it was under the direction of the Prime Minister's Director of Communications. It was staffed by officials from a wide range of Whitehall Departments and, when appropriate, secondees from other Governments. Most of those involved had previously worked in the field of Government Communications and Information. They remained on the normal employment terms of their home Departments. Their responsibility within the CIC was to contribute to the co-ordination and dissemination of cross-Government information and communications. When delivering their day-to-day objectives within the CIC, staff were managed by a senior FCO official. But their personnel management remained with their home Departments. The funding of the CIC for infrastructure (IT etc.) was covered by the FCO. Home Departments covered staffing costs. Those members of the CIC who were authorised to have access to intelligence and security information did so through the appropriate channels. The Iraq Communications Group is comprised of senior officials from Downing Street and other Whitehall Departments.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

122685; 408 c818-9W;408 c816-7W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Access Conditions of employment Civil servants Intelligence services Functions Iraq International cooperation Membership Security Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departmental coordination

Link

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