To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what average hourly rate his Department paid to employment agencies for agency staff in each year since 1999, broken down by employment agency. (187916)

DFID appoints temporary administrative staff predominantly through two Recruitment Agencies (one based in London and one in East Kilbride). The average rates are as detailed in the following table but are only available in London from 2002 and in East Kilbride from 2005 without incurring disproportionate costs:

For more specialist staff, e.g. IT and communications specialists, records are held by different budget holders across the department, and it is not possible to provide hourly rates without disproportionate costs.