To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people aged (a) 30 to 39, (b) 40 to 49, (c) 50 to 59 and (d) 60 to 69 years have (i) applied for jobs, (ii) received interviews and (iii) gained (A) temporary and (B) permanent jobs in his Department in 2007. (165105)

BERR was created in June 2007 following machinery of government changes. BERR complies with age legislation introduced on 1 October 2006 and does not ask people to disclose their age when they apply for a post. However, after selection every new starter completes a personal data form which includes an age field. This information is recorded in the BERR personnel management information system.

The number of permanent staff joining BERR since its creation broken down into age groups is as follows:

Data on those appointed to temporary posts are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.