To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on relocation costs for new members of staff in each of the last three years. (280775)

For the financial year 2008-09, any relocation costs for new members of staff will be reported in the Department’s remuneration report, which will be published as part of the 2009 resource accounts in July.

For 2007-08, relocation costs of £41,900 were paid on the resettlement of one new member of staff whose overall benefits-in-kind were reported in the 2007-08 remuneration report and can be found on page 25 at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_089421

For 2006-07 no relocation costs were incurred for new members of staff.