§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many members of her Department have been employed in its Regulatory Impact Unit in the past five years; and if she will make a statement. [65966]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggFrom 1997 to 2002, the Department has employed the following numbers of staff in its Regulatory Impact Unit
497W1997–98: Approximately half the time of a full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary)1998–99: Approximately half the time of a full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary)1999–2000: Approximately half the time of a full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary) up to 31 December 1999, and, one full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary) from 1 January 20022000–01: One full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary)2001–02: One full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary)From 2002: One full-time member of staff (with line management support when necessary).It is the job of the departmental Regulatory Impact Unit to establish and promote the principles of good regulation in the Department. The unit works closely with the officials responsible for developing policies in the Department and the Regulatory Impact Unit within the Cabinet Office. It focuses on those regulations that impact on business, charities, and the voluntary sector.