Departmental Research

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many educational researchers were employed by (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. (216210)

The Department currently employs 30 social researchers. These researchers work on a range of issues including educational research but also including other research on young people, children and families. Historical data are only available for the years 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-3 and 2006-07 as follows:

		Number
2000-01	Department for Education and Employment	83
2001-02	Department for Education and Skills	50
2002-03	Department for Education and Skills	60
2006-07	Department for Education and Skills	37

Since 2003, QCA has employed the following number of educational researchers in each year:

	Number
2003	15
2004	19
2005	18
2006	18
2007	14
2008	15

Information for 2001 and 2002 is not available.

Volume 478: debated on Tuesday 8 July 2008