To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of his Department’s mail is shipped using private companies; and what the cost has been over the last 12 months. (107902)

In the financial year 2005-06 the Department for Education and Skills spent £390,882 on mail services. Of this total £28,798 was spent on private company couriers, amounting to 7.37 per cent. of total business.