To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department paid to recruitment agencies in relation to departmental appointments in each year since 1997. (184922)

The Department was established on 28 June 2007. The costs paid to recruitment agencies for senior civil service (SCS) recruitment this financial year is £206,402.76. The costs for vacancies below SCS level are not recorded in the same way and figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.