§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preferences to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31527]
§ Mr. BurtUnder the next steps programme responsibility for recruitment has been devolved to individual business units and, within agencies, to local level. Employment agencies and executive search agencies are used by personnel sections where their expertise can add value to the recruitment process. In most cases they are used to fill senior or specialist vacancies. The Department uses recruitment and assessment services to recruit staff to the fast stream grade. The Contributions Agency has contracted out its personnel services and the contractors undertake all recruitment action on the agency's behalf.