To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individuals have worked in her Department on (a) paid and (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the last three years; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year. (242121)

28 individuals have worked in the Department for Communities and Local Government on paid summer placements over the past three years. Individuals on summer placements are a mixture of undergraduates and recent graduates and work in a variety of posts across the Department. They are contracted to work 36 hours per week and are placed on the minimum executive officer salary, currently £24,461, which is paid pro rata for the duration of the placement. Of the 10 individuals who joined the Department in summer 2008 two did not complete their placements.

The Department does not keep a central record of how many individuals have undertaken unpaid work experience as this information is held locally by divisions.