§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 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 or its predecessors 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. [158254]
§ Mr. LeslieMy Department has a national contract for the provision of agency workers. Information regarding usage in the current financial year is only available for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 December 2003. During that period the estimated average number of agency staff employed was 255, which equates to 1.96 per cent. of the total staff employed.
Information regarding the expenditure under this contract is provided in the following table.
Information relating to workers employed through other agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
My Department uses agency workers to meet short-term requirements and in areas where it is difficult to recruit and retain staff.
1369W
Use of department's national contract for provision of agency workers
Financial year Expenditure 2001–02 Lord Chancellor's Department and Associated offices
Not applicable-did not begin using
contract until
following year
Court Service—including the Immigration Appellate Authority
£2,360,000 2002–03 Lord Chancellor's Department and Associated offices
£276,000 Court Services—including the Immigration Appellate Authority
£4,692,000
Use of department's national contract for provision of agency workers
Financial year Expenditure 2003–041 Department for Constitutional Affairs and Associated Offices
£849,500 Court Service—including the Immigration Appellate Authority
£2,939,000 1 Information available 1 April 2003 to 31 December 2003 only