To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many officials work directly for her. (254041)

[holding answer 3 February 2009]: In my Private Office I have five officials and a special adviser.

In addition, the Government Olympic Executive which reports to me through the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, comprises 87.3 full-time equivalent staff, a total which includes both established civil servants and agency and interim staff.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the job description is of each official who works for her in her capacity as Minister for the Olympics. (254454)

[holding answer 5 February 2009]: My Private Office comprises five officials and a special adviser. In addition, the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) which reports to me through the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, comprises 87.3 full-time equivalent staff, a total which includes both established civil servants and agency and interim staff.

The GOE is responsible for ensuring the Games are delivered on time, on budget and to the benefit of the whole of the UK. It works extensively with other organisations, such as the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), providing important oversight, management and accountability for the games as a whole. GOE is the only body overseeing the entire Olympic project.

There are five teams within GOE:

Build and finance—responsible for ensuring the delivery of the Games infrastructure and venues remains on time, and that the whole programme remains on budget and provides value for money;

Staging—responsible for the myriad Government commitments and legislative changes necessary to host the world’s largest sporting event and assurance of LOCOG’s plans and finances in Government’s role as funder of last resort;

Legacy—responsible for ensuring that the Government’s ambitious legacy commitments are delivered, including getting 2 million people more active, transforming the heart of east London and inspiring a generation of young people;

Operations—responsible for overseeing the entire Olympic Project, identifying risks and issues across organisations, managing the Olympic Board and ensuring we are accountable to Parliament and the public; and

Communications—a small team responsible for working across Government to ensure events and activities are co-ordinated to avoid duplication and wasted resource.

Job descriptions for each official in my Private Office and in the GOE could be provided only at disproportionate cost.