To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what average hourly rate her Department paid to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by agency. (89536)

The Department has contracted with Kelly Services for the provision of agency staff since 2001. Prior to this date the Department did not have a national contract in place and therefore management information was not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information regarding the average rates of any other employment agencies used in the various parts of the Department is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Department uses agency staff to fill clerical staff vacancies that are urgently required, and where it has been difficult to recruit permanent staff through normal processes. The Department also uses agency staff to fill temporary positions.

The following table provides average hourly rates for the years mentioned: