§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143905]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonOn average around 2 per cent. of the Department's staff (100 people) contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme. For the month of November 2003, £11,124.30 was donated, (this figure will change each month as staff join and leave the scheme).
A range of initiatives are periodically undertaken including inviting charitable organisations onto the Department's premises to promote themselves and encourage staff participation.
Giving to charity through Give as You Earn is unlikely to reflect fully the charitable activity of the Department's employees. Giving to charity is a very personal and often private choice. Many of the Department's employees may donate to charity or volunteer their time and skills.