To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many security passes his Department has issued to contractors providing consultancy services in the last 12 months. (303945)

In the period from 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009, there were 234 new contractor records on the Department's Business Management System. In the same period, there were 115 new consultant records.

A security pass cannot be issued without a suitable record on the Department's Business Management System.