Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff have been seconded to his Department from outside the Civil Service in the last six months.

In the last six months, seven individuals have been seconded to my Department from outside the Civil Service.

My Department is committed to the benefits that can be brought for the taxpayer in the delivery of Government objectives from the interchange with other sectors and is always looking for opportunities to develop such arrangements with relevant companies or organisations where this is beneficial to the taxpayer.