To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff aged between 16 and 18 were employed by her Department and its predecessors (a) directly and (b) through an employment agency in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these were given time off work to undertake some form of training; and what proportion were provided with some form of training (i) wholly and (ii) partially funded by her Department. (171278)

Generally, nearly all 16 to 18 year-olds employed directly will be given time-off to undertake training and this is funded. However, the detailed breakdown requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.