To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the full-time equivalent headcount in his Department is; what the forecast full-time equivalent headcount for his Department is for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. (163979)

At 31 October 2007, DFID employed 1,675 home civil service staff on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis and 849 FTE staff appointed in country (SAIC) who work overseas on local terms and conditions of service.

Headcount projections for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years have yet to be established. DFID is currently considering the staffing implications of the CSR 2007 financial settlement, which requires the Department to make savings in administration costs over the three years of the settlement period.