To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff work in her Office's parliamentary branch; and what proportion of their time is spent on dealing with (a) parliamentary questions and (b) correspondence from hon. Members and Peers. (174948)

The Government Equalities Office does not have a parliamentary branch. It is currently supported in this function by the Department of Work and Pensions. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs. McGuire) on 6 February 2008, Official Report, column 1229W, which provides full details about the parliamentary branch in DWP. The Parliamentary Branch does not deal with correspondence from Members or Peers.