Strategic Rail Authority

HC Deb 21 June 2004 vol 422 cc1246-7W

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) consultants and (b) contractors have been employed by the Strategic Rail Authority or employed on matters in each year since its creation expressed in full-time equivalent posts. [178867]

Mr. McNulty

Consultants are employed on defined, temporary tasks—typically studies into particular propositions—and their employment cannot be equated to SRA staff posts. Contractors, by contrast, may at times fill staff posts in lieu of permanently employed SRA staff.

Data was not held in the form requested for the full period since the SRA was set up in February 2001. The available figures are as follows:

	February 2001	August 2002	March 2003	March 2004
Contractors on projects	—	—	69	135
Contractors covering vacancies	—	—	64	37
Other temporary staff	—	—	22	9
Total	66	90	155	181