§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many graduate job applications were made and how many jobs were available at DERA in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and how many he expects for 2000. [127605]
§ Dr. MoonieThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
436WLetter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 27 June 2000:
I am replying to your parliamentary question about graduate recruitment within DERA since such matters relate to the operation of the Agency.DERA runs a corporate graduate recruitment programme for newly or recently qualified graduates. The figures below apply to this mainly "new" graduate intake.
Year Number of applications received Number of vacancies Appointed 1997–98 3,533 Up to 300 242 1998–99 4,245 Up to 300 242 1999–2000 4,721 Up to 500 457 For the year 2000 we are currently assuming vacancies again of up to 500 but, in view of the current deliberations on the future of the Agency, it is too soon to speculate the precise numbers of graduates eventually to be appointed.The above figures do not take into account local recruitment of staff for specific appointments, many of whom may well be educated to university standard.I hope the above is helpful.