To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 10 November 2008, Official Report, column 881W, on departmental temporary employment, how many staff were recruited through each company in each year; and for how long on average staff recruited through these companies worked for the Department in each year. (242103)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not maintain central records of the value or length of individual contracts for temporary employment between its directorates and individual companies. These figures can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.