asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review; what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department.[HL1016]

My department was formed as part of the machinery of government changes announced on 28 June 2007.

During the period 28 June to date, there have been three voluntary early releases costing my department a total of £80,996. There have been no compulsory redundancies in my department.

Over 500 staff from the former Department for Education and Skills have transferred to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills as part of the machinery of government changes. Since 28 June 2007, 127 staff have joined and 160 staff have left my department, resulting in a net reduction of 33 staff in that period. Information about natural wastage is not available in the form requested.

My department is committed to achieving its net workforce reduction target, shared with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, by the end of 2007-08.