HC Deb 23 July 2004 vol 424 cc775-6W
Mr. Bacon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were employed in the Department(a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which information is available, broken down by job title; if he will list the job functions performed by those holding each job title; and for how many people the primary function was (i) human resource or personnel functions, (ii) finance and accounting functions, (iii) information technology functions and (iv) other support, back office or administrative functions (A) in 1997 and (B) at the latest date for which information is available. [183459]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 14 July 2004]: As at 1 July 2004, 4,440 people were employed in my Department. The numbers employed in the functions listed were:

  1. (i) 239 (5 per cent.) in human resources;
  2. (ii) 67 (1.5 per cent.) in finance and accounting;
  3. (iii) 248 (6 per cent.) in information technology, and
  4. (iv) 359 (8 per cent.) in other support, back office or administrative functions.
By 2008, we have plans in place to reduce these to:
  1. (i) 145 in human resources;
  2. (ii) 51 in finance and accounting;
  3. (iii) 183 in information technology, and
  4. (iv) 299 in other support. back office or administrative functions.

On 1 April 1997, 33,662 people were employed in the former Department for Education and Employment, of whom 29,181 were in the Employment Service Agency. My Department does not hold numbers by the listed functions as at this date.

A breakdown of people by job title and job function could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.