To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many temporary employees were contracted to work for his Department in 2005-06; and what the total cost of such employees was in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 1997-98.

DTI departmental report 2006 states the number of casual and non-permanent staff in 2004-05 and the estimated outturn number for casual and non-permanent staff in 2005-06. The estimated outturn for 2005-06 is 214 full-time equivalent casual and non-permanent staff. The actual figure will be reported in the departmental report 2007 due to be published in the spring. These numbers are taken from our departmental headcount monitoring and reporting system and are an average of the number of casual and non-permanent staff DTI employs over a financial year.

Due to disproportionate cost we are unable to report the total cost of casual and non-permanent employees in 1997-98 or 2005-06.