To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what average hourly rate his Department paid to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by employment agency. (187798)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has used two employment agencies to provide temporary staff since August 2007, Hays and Brook Street. The average hourly rate for staff provided by Hays was £12.70; the average hourly rate for Brook Street was £11.93.

For the period 2005-06, the Department used Adecco and Josephine Sammons, whose hourly rates were respectively £13.96 and £14.50.

The information requested prior to 2005 could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.