To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what role is performed by each of the Certification Officer’s employees. (183604)

[holding answer 31 January 2008]: The roles of the Certification Officer’s nine employees are as follows:

one Assistant Certification Officer (who oversees the work of the office and carries out functions delegated to him by the Certification Officer such as approval of Political Fund Rules and registration of mergers),

two Operations Managers (who oversee complaints about breach of rule and statute and deal mainly with mergers political funds, Annual Returns, Certificates of Independence and financial irregularity issues),

two Complaints Case Managers (dealing with breach of statute and breach of rule complaints),

one Administration Manager (who deals with Annual Returns, listing and change of names),

two Executive Officers (administration) and

one Administrative Officer.