To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. (244385)

The Department for Transport and its agencies does not generally hire permanent employees on an hourly rate. However under delegated pay arrangements it is the responsibility of each individual business unit within the Department to set its rates of pay in accordance with the business needs of the unit.