TNAG-0592-FCO40-725-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-and-Indian-Ocean-Department-1976 — Page 86

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of the fact that the same Dependent Territories' accounts are scrutinized first by the geographical desks and subsequently by the Finance department of the Ministry of Overseas Develop- ment. We conclude that if Mr Carter's services are still necessary they should form part of the Ministry of Overseas Development's staffing quota in the Joint departments which is, we understand, calculated on the basis of the aid element in the workload. It is indeed arguable that if audit advice is essential and is not available in the Finance department of the ODM Mr Carter should be based there. We recommend therefore that Mr Carter's contract should be renewed for a further four months (ie to June 1976) to allow him to complete arrangements for and report on the Conference of the Dependent Territories' Directors of Audit. Meanwhile, Personnel Policy department

should consult the ODM with a view to his transfer to the ODM establishment.

Adviser on Colonial Affairs

J S Bennett

General

25. Mr Bennett retired from the Colonial Office in 1970 and was re-employed on period appointment as a grade 5A (Special Adviser on Colonial Affairs) in Research department. In 1974 it was considered on inspection that he had "less than a worthwhile job" and that in the long-term a generalist RO/ARO would be of more value than a Special Adviser. His appointment was therefore terminated on 30 June 1975. Gibraltar and General department applied for and were given authority to employ him as a part-time adviser. He was appointed on a one .year contract from 1 July 1975 in the first instance to work one day a week plus additional days as necessary, but with a maximum of 90 days.

Responsibilities

26.

Gibraltar and General department's purpose in re-employing Mr Bennett was to retain a memory-bank whilst establishing a solid base of rule and precedent from which the Dependent Territories Division could operate in future. A list of the more substantial questions on which Mr Bennett has been asked to advise since joining the department is attached at Annex C. The Head of department has also requested him

(a) to up-date (for factual accuracy only) Part II

of Colonial Regulations;

(b) to up-date "Dependent Territories Departmental

Practice";

(c) to devise a "Colonial Precedents Index".

3.

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The intention