Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 19 October 2016 to Question 47638 and pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2017 to Question 8077, for what reasons the budget for the Gulf Strategy Integrated Delivery Team has more than doubled in the last financial year.

As a result of recruitment issues the team held vacant positions for some time during FY16/17. These have now been resolved and the budget increase reflects the team’s build-up to full strength.

The Gulf Strategy Integrated Delivery team employs six full-time and one part-time Government employees. One is military and six civilian.