To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) paid and (b) unpaid graduate internships his Department has awarded in each of the last six months. (281511)

The Department has not appointed any graduate interns in the last six months. The Department, however, has recruited 32 graduate and undergraduate interns whose internships will be starting from 29 June 2009 for six to eight weeks as part of a Cabinet Office internship programme. The Department has also increased its recruitment of graduates this year to support its resourcing needs and provide opportunities for those entering the labour market at this time. The Department is currently recruiting around 80 executive officers and we are targeting graduates as part of this process. In addition to this, around 20 graduates will join the Department in October 2009 as part of the Civil Service Fast Stream.

The Department also intends to be part of the ‘Graduate Talent Pool’ programme that has been developed by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.