To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many personnel were employed by Somerset county council in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04, (d) 2004-05 and (e) 2005-06. (143967)

Somerset county council employed the following (from the March of each year):

The changes have occurred as a result of some increases in schools, employees, both teaching and non-teaching and also as a result of Local Management of Schools and the re-internalisation of some services.

The increase in joint working and partnership working, with external funding—examples are the NHS, the Supporting People Programme, National Care Standards, the Older People’s Commissioning Strategy, the Early Years Initiative, Care Direct, Surestart and Passenger Transport has also increased staff levels. In all these cases the county council has been the nominated employer.