To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many job vacancies in his Department and its agencies were filled through the use of external recruitment companies in the latest year for which figures are available. (314769)

During the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau) filled 461 vacancies with permanent staff, fixed term appointments or casuals recruited through the use of external recruitment companies.

Of these 461 vacancies, 318 were Immigration caseworker jobs that arose in the UK Border Agency as a result of the move to regionalise case working and move jobs outside London, in line with the recommendation of the Gershon review.

The total of 461 vacancies filled through the use of external recruitment companies in 2008-09 represents less than 10 per cent. of the overall total number of advertised vacancies filled with permanent staff, fixed term appointments and casuals within the Home Office and its agencies during that period. The vast majority of vacancies were, therefore, filled through internal and cross-Government trawls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment companies in the latest year for which figures are available. (314770)

The information held centrally by Home Office on recruitment is not broken down in sufficient detail to identify expenditure on external recruitment companies. The requested information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.