To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the effect on costs to the public purse has been of the operation of agencies within his Department’s responsibilities in the last (a) five and (b) 10 years. (185753)

[holding answer 18 February 2008]: It has not been possible to quantify the effect on costs to the public purse of the operation of agencies. However information relating to DWP costs may be found in the Published Resource Account for DWP 2006/07. This is available using the following link.

http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0607/hc08/0875/0875.pdf