HC Deb 22 May 1996 vol 278 cc260-1W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [30067]

Mr. Kynoch

[holding answer 21 May 1996]: The Scottish Office deregulation unit comprises one member of the senior civil service, one grade 7, two higher executive officers, one executive officer and two administrative assistants. The officers concerned are all career civil servants and none has worked recently in the private sector. These staff also perform other functions within the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department and for that reason it is not possible to assign a specific cost to their deregulation activities.