§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff the Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; what percentage this is of total staff employed; and how much the Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to the most recent date for which figures are available. [158248]
§ Ms HewittThe number of temporary staff engaged by DTI fluctuates through the year, but on average we have approximately 450 temporary staff per annum, which represents 9 per cent. of our current workforce. The cost of employing these agency staff over the last three financial years was 2001–02 £4,865K, 2002–03 £6,654K and 2003 –04 £5,223K.