To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what training his Department makes available to its officials immediately prior to an overseas posting; and if he will make a statement. (304558)

Most staff from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) working overseas do so on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The training they receive immediately prior to an overseas posting depends on the post they are to take up.

BIS staff undertaking trade and investment posts overseas normally have the opportunity to attend an induction programme covering UKTI’s strategy, structure and business. The programme includes a mix of briefing meetings and broader meetings with key stakeholders, sector specialists and relevant UK companies. Where appropriate, further pre-posting training may be provided by FCO, e.g. language training; IT systems training and similar.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in his Department undertook media skills training in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. (304561)

Media skills training, arranged by the Press Office, has been undertaken by the Department’s permanent secretary and the Government chief scientific adviser in the last 12 months.

Details of any other media skills training for officials are not held centrally.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department funds any training courses which are undertaken overseas; and if he will make a statement. (304566)

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not normally fund training courses undertaken overseas. BIS staff working overseas mainly do so on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Skills training overseas is usually funded through FCO budgets.