The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 bringing together the former Department of Social Security and Employment Service. Information on the number of full-time equivalent Civil Servants employed by the Department in (a) Sunderland (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) the North East region at 31 March each year following its formation is in the following table. The figures are also included as at 31 December 2007, the latest available.
Sunderland Tyne and Wear North East Region 31 March 2002 585 11,018 14,051 31 March 2003 604 11,586 14,928 31 March 2004 585 10,239 13,671 31 March 2005 549 9,515 12,722 31 March 2006 533 9,146 12,275 31 March 2007 607 n/a 11,566 31 December 2007 658 n/a 11,314 n/a = not available Figures have been rounded to nearest whole number