To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what estimate she has made of the cost of (a) establishing the National Equalities Panel, (b) running the panel in its first year and (c) the salary which will be paid to panel members. (229115)

The total cost of the Panel is likely to be £400,000 over two financial years. It will be met by a Government research grant to the London School of Economics. Payment of the grant will be dependent on completion of agreed stages in the project. The Chair and panel members, who are leading experts in their fields will be paid £1,000 per day, for a maximum of 80 days for the Chair and eight days for each member.