To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of Office of Manpower Economics staff are based in London; what are the total (a) running and (b) salary costs of this body; and what is the total Government financial assistance provided. [36233]

The Office of Manpower Economics (OME), which provides the secretariat for the independent Pay Review Bodies, has 37.9 whole-time equivalent staff, all of whom are based in London. The running costs budget for the OME in 1997–98 is £1.581 million, which includes salary costs of £1.357 million. Total government funding for OME in 1997–98 is £2.85 million, including £1.27 million for research commissioned by the Pay Review Bodies.