To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on (a) involuntary and (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) her Department and (ii) each agency of the Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if she will make a statement. (123928)

The information is as follows:

(a) There have been no involuntary staff exit schemes since 1997-98 and none are planned for 2007-08

(b) While there have been some voluntary early departures between 1997 and 2005, information about redundancy costs is not held centrally due to previous machinery of government changes and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Voluntary staff exit schemes have been undertaken during 2006-07 and £13.4 million has been committed to date. Further voluntary exit schemes may be undertaken during 2007-08 but the overall cost is not yet known.