To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what average hourly rate his Department and its predecessors paid to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by employment agency. (187909)

The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007 therefore my response refers to the former Department for Constitutional Affairs. The following table provides figures from 2001 to the end of the last full financial year. Information for the preceding financial years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

My Department and its predecessor has a national framework contract with Kelly Services that began in April 2001 for the supply of agency staff.

Information relating to workers employed through other employment agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information on average hourly rates paid to agency staff employed through Kelly Services appears as follows.