§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [158244]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe table shows the contract/ employment agency staff costs for years 2001–02 to 2003–04, and the percentage of contract/employment agency costs as a percentage of total staff costs. Employment agency costs are not kept separately.
Year Amount(£) Percentage 2001–02 7,589,927 5 2002–03 10,245,940 7 2003–041 10,190,618 8 1 Expenditure in 2003–04 is April 2003 to January 2004. The number of temporary staff employed through employment agencies and the percentage this is of the total staff employed can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Temporary staff employed 728W through employment agencies are recruited by managers according to business needs. The Department does not keep a central record of the number of temporary staff employed through employment agencies.