To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of (a) staff and (b) new staff employed since April 2005 in (i) her Department and (ii) each of the agencies for which she has responsibility is recorded as disabled. (92185)

The proportion of staff employed in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport recorded as disabled is 3 per cent. and in the Royal Parks Agency 1.5 per cent. The Department and its Agency collect disability data on the basis of voluntary self-classification. Recruitment since April 2005 has been limited and data on the number of disabled staff employed cannot be released as numbers less than five are suppressed to protect confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many disabled people were hired by her Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of the overall workforce these figures represented in each year; and how many disabled people left employment in her Department over the same period. (92470)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport collects disability data on the basis of voluntary self-classification. Data on the number of disabled staff hired, the percentage of the overall workforce and leavers in each of the last five years since April 2006 cannot be released as numbers less than five are suppressed to protect confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what tax-efficient schemes for the purchase of bicycles her Department makes available to its employees; how many and what percentage of her Department’s staff purchased bicycles through such schemes in 2005-06; whether the schemes are available through a range of suppliers; and whether arrangements are made to enable staff with disabilities to purchase adapted bicycles from a specialist supplier. (90067)

The Department does not provide tax-efficient schemes for the purchase of bicycles for staff. We provide interest-free loans for the purchase of bicycles.

We have recently upgraded our on-site facilities for cyclists including provision of additional bicycle racks and upgraded shower facilities. We provide parking spaces for disabled staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of her Department’s employees have been (a) dismissed, (b) suspended and (c) subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity in each year since 1997. (88458)

At 25 July 2006 no employee of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport had been dismissed, suspended or subject to disciplinary action for criminal activity since 1997.