Olga Scott, the former Director of the Department of Financial Assistance, has been taken on as a consultant with the Department, at a cost of over $9,000 a month.

Responding to questions from her Shadow counterpart, Michael Dunkley, Health Minister Patrice Minors said that Mrs. Scott, the wife of Premier Alex Scott, had been contracted for a six month period from November to June this year.

Her job during that period is "to work under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary and provide such services as required in the training and orientation of the newly appointed Director of Financial Assistance," according to the Minister's written reply.

She was contracted to "affect a smooth transition with the newly appointed Director of Financial Assistance and to complete ad hoc project work as assigned by the Permanent Secretary," Mrs. Minors said.

"This practice is not unusual in the Civil Service as it has proven most helpful to effecting major transitions with minimal service disruptions."