§ Mr. SteenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many(a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30059]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe running costs for the departmental deregulation unit for 1996–97 are approximately £150,000. It has a core staff of three private civil servants—one G7 and two HEO grade—one of whom has experience of the private sector. In addition the DDU draws upon a variety of other departmental resources, including the expertise of business secondees to the Department.