To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many staff are employed on domestic humanitarian assistance; and what the total cost was of employing such staff in each of the last three years. (187334)

[holding answer 20 February 2008]: The Humanitarian Assistance Unit currently has six staff. It also has a number of volunteers from elsewhere in the Department who support its work. The total staff costs for the Humanitarian Assistance Unit is as follows:

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what (a) domestic and (b) international incidents she has dealt with as lead Minister for domestic humanitarian assistance. (187335)

[holding answer 20 February 2008]: The Humanitarian Assistance Unit was formally established in 2005 after the London bombings. Since then it has been involved in supporting those affected by the following incidents:

2005

Domestic

London bombings

Failed London bombings

Stockwell tube shooting

International

Terrorist attacks in:

Kusadasi, Turkey;

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt;

Bali

2006

International

The Bahrain Dhow disaster;

Shooting incident in Jordan;

Terrorist attacks in:

Dahab, Egypt;

Marmaris, Turkey;

Hat Yai, Thailand;

Bangkok, Thailand

Prior to the establishment of the unit in 2005, I as then Secretary of State and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport was involved with providing humanitarian assistance following the following incidents: