hiː wʌz sᵻkˈɑːndᵻd tə skˈɑːɾɪʃ hˈoʊmz, fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, ænd tə ðə kˈæbᵻnət ˈɑːfɪs, fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn, wˌɛɹ hiː wʌz ɪnvˈɑːlvd ɪn kˈoʊˌɔːɹdᵻnˈeɪʃən ʌvðə ɡˈʌvɚnmənts lˈɛdʒɪslətˌɪv pɹˈoʊɡɹæm ænd sˈoʊʃəl pˈɑːlɪsiz.
He was seconded to Scottish Homes, from 1988 to 1989, and to the Cabinet Office, from 1998 to 1999, where he was involved in co-ordination of the Government's legislative programme and social policies.