To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many inspectors were employed by his Department in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 1997-98. (228089)

Inspection of provision related to the Department’s remit is the responsibility of Ofsted. At the end of 1998, Ofsted, as the Office for Standards in Education, employed 205 Her Majesty’s Inspectors, all of whom were responsible for school inspection. It subsequently took on responsibility for the regulation and inspection of child care, and the inspection of 16-19 provision in further education colleges. In April 2007, Ofsted became the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Its remit expanded further to include adult learning, children’s social care and the administration of Cafcass, the children and families courts advisory support service. As of 30 September 2008, it employed 375 Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, 663 Childcare Inspectors and 172 Social Care Inspectors.