To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07. (146917)

The 2006-07 Performance Management arrangements for staff in the SCS have been concluded.

For staff below the SCS in core-DEFRA and those agencies covered by the core-Department's performance appraisal arrangements (including Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service) the process has still to be concluded.

However, to date (up to 30 June 2007), eight staff had not achieved an acceptable mark in their 2006-07 annual report.