§ 49. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many temporary staff are employed in his Department; how many of these are secured from employment agencies; and what is the increased cost to his Department over and above the cost of normal establishment rates of pay.
§ Mr. Hattersley465 staff are employed on a casual short-term basis, of whom 14 are secured from commercial employment agencies at an extra cost of about £800 per annum. Additionally, the services of 120 draughtsmen and other technical staff required to meet specialised needs are currently obtained from various engineering firms on a contract basis at an extra cost of about £130,000 per annum.
§ Mr. Kenneth LewisIs the Minister aware that his Ministry, along with many others, is now employing staffs on a temporary basis, many of them from employment agencies, and this is a very expensive way of doing things? Would it not be better to pay the rate for the job?
§ Mr. HattersleyIt would be an expensive way of doing it were we doing it as an alternative to permanent employment. It is done when specialist services are needed for a short space of time and is, therefore, an economy.