To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time posts were filled on a temporary basis for a period in excess of six months in his Department in each of the last three years. (200661)

Posts may be filled temporarily by a variety of means, eg using short-term appointments, temporary promotion, employment agency temporary staff or interims. Consequently, it is not possible to identify all posts filled temporarily for longer than six months without incurring disproportionate cost.