To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff aged between 16 and 18 were employed by his Department and its predecessor (a) directly and (b) through an employment agency in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these were given time off work to undertake some form of training; and what proportion were provided with some form of training (i) wholly and (ii) partially funded by his Department. (171280)

The Department was established in June 2007. Information is available on 16 to 18-year-olds employed directly by its predecessor DfES from 2004 to 2006 and for DCSF in 2007.

Direct appointments prior to 2004 were not recorded in the same way and figures can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Age-related information on temporary workers engaged by DCSF and DfES is not collected and so to isolate the number of 16 to 18 years engaged would incur disproportionate cost.

Information on training undertaken by individuals in specified age groups is not recorded and so could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.