To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people who were in temporary work and who were seeking permanent work in each year since 1997. (173893)

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about what estimate has been made for the number and proportion of people who were in temporary work who were seeking permanent work in each year since 1997. (173893)

Seasonally adjusted estimates for temporary employment levels and reasons for temporary working are published each month in the Labour Market Statistics First Release. Please visit the following link:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LMS_FR_HS/WebTable03.xls

These estimates are based on the respondent reason for taking up their present employment, rather than whether they are currently seeking permanent work. Estimates for those who are temporary employees and currently seeking permanent employment are not available.

Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.