To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that those temporary and permanent employees at the same grade in his Department who are paid at an hourly rate are paid at the same rate. (244386)

Staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice and the Office reimburses those Departments for the costs involved. The Office does not maintain a record of the hourly pay for temporary or permanent staff; such information is the responsibility of the parent Departments.