HC Deb 20 January 2000 vol 342 cc564-5W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what changes there have been in full-time staff numbers in her Department in the UK and abroad in each quarter between 1 May 1997 and 13 January 1999; [105684]

(2) what changes there have been in Civil Service staff numbers in her Department for each quarter between 1 May 1997 and 13 January 1999. [105685]

Mr. Foulkes

Changes in numbers of full-time posts financed from DFID' s running costs budget during the period May 1997 to January 1999 were as follows:

Calendar year/Quarter Increase/decrease from the previous quarter
1997 Q3 -10
1997 Q4 +23
1998 Q1 +42
1998 Q2 +5
1998 Q3 +36
1998 Q4 +34
1999 Q1 -21
Total cumulative increase/decrease over the period +109

Figures are based on full time equivalents and take account of UK staff only. They exclude staff appointed in country and those contracted and paid from Programme budgets. Figures for the latter could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her officials are registered disabled. [105741]

Mr. Foulkes

Since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995 people formerly registered as disabled are no longer registered as such. However, 2 per cent. of my officials have declared themselves to have a disability.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her officials are women and how many are senior civil servants. [105740]

Mr. Foulkes

Forty four per cent. of the officials in our Department are women, of who 11 are in the Senior Civil Service.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her officials are from ethnic minorities. [105743]

Mr. Foulkes

Six per cent. of the officials in our Department are from an ethnic minority background.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many(a) Muslims and (b) Sikhs are employed by her Department. [105742]

Mr. Foulkes

We do not collect information on the religious affiliations of staff.