asked the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, in writing, on 3 March 2011:

(1) How many personal staff are employed by the Minister.

(2) What is the

(a) total cost, and

(b) breakdown of costs, of all capital works and acquisitions in the Minister's private office since 3 December 2007.

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation (DoFD). On 22 February 2011, DoFD tabled with the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee a list of Government Personal Staff Positions as at 1 February 2011.

(2) The cost of capital works and acquisitions for ministers' offices is shared by the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), DoFD and home departments in line with Appendix 2 of Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values. The Special Minister of State will accordingly respond on behalf of all ministers in respect of costs incurred by the DPS and DoFD.

I am advised that the costs incurred by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency are as follows:

Note that I was appointed the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency on 11 September 2010. As such, no data is provided for the period prior to this date.