To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department (a) in total and (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose. (173841)

The Department has a continuing commitment to equality and diversity, which conforms to all statutory duties and supports the Cabinet Office Diversity 10 Point Plan. There is a small equality and diversity team, which is responsible for strategy and policy development. However, the delivery of the diversity agenda is mainstreamed across all functions and roles—both in the Human Resources Branch and the wider organisation. Because considerations of equality and diversity have become, over the years, integral components of the business and hence a very wide range of staff activities it is not possible to separately identify and report on costs for those components without incurring disproportionate costs.