To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many work permits were applied for by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years. (126800)

This information is not held centrally. It can be obtained for the last three years but only at disproportionate cost. We are currently undertaking a HR management information review through which we will seek to ensure that all such information relating to new Civil Servants is collected and easily available in the future.