§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many(a) are career civil 124W servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30063]
§ Mr. ForthThe departmental deregulation unit is part of the briefing unit, a division which also has various other functions. The staff who deal with deregulation as part of their duties consist of one grade 5—plus personal secretary—one grade 7, one higher executive officer, one executive officer and one administrative officer. The annual salary and general administrative costs attributable to deregulation functions are approximately £29,000. None of the current staff have been seconded from business. The grade 5 divisional manager has experience of secondment to the private sector.