To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what terms and conditions Mr. Maurice Tucker, a civil servant at his Department is seconded indefinitely to Thamesmead Town Ltd., to act as company secretary and a non executive director; and at what cost to the Exchequer this secondment is made.

Mr. Maurice Tucker was seconded to Thamesmead Town on 1 December 1986 and returns to the Department on 31 December 1988. While on secondment, Mr. Tucker remains a civil servant and is paid the salary applicable to his grade—grade 7. The company has leased a car for his use during the secondment. From 1 December 1986 to 26 July 1987, before Thamesmead Town was fully operational, Mr. Tucker was paid by the Department as a grade 7 Officer. Since 27 July 1987, his salary costs have been reimbursed to the Department by Thamesmead Town.