To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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.

During the last three years the Department has spent the following amount fulfilling its legal duties as an employer on equality and diversity:

Most of this expenditure relates to providing reasonable adjustments for staff considered disabled under the Equality Act, for example: providing assistive software and related training for staff with a visual impairment, and adjustment of office equipment or furniture for staff with limited mobility.

Equality and diversity activity, including promotion, is incorporated in work across the Department, but this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.