To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in his Department have a science or engineering degree. (260774)

This Department does not have a specific budget for scientific research. It does have a Chief Scientific Adviser and an Assistant Chief Scientific Adviser with secretarial support. The BERR budget for this unit is £200,000 in 2008-09. The unit did not exist prior to 1 April 2008.

This Department does not keep a separate record of people it employs with a science or engineering degree and such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.