Department for Work and Pensions: Staff

(asked on 21st February 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the non-payroll staff in her Department's workforce can be fairly described as being in business on their own account.


Answered by
Kit Malthouse Portrait
Kit Malthouse
This question was answered on 26th February 2018

We understand this question to refers to the IR35 status of our contractors. As at 31st January 2018, the Department had 455 contractors. Of these, we have classified 22 as In-Scope of IR35 and 433 Out of scope of IR35.

The Department engages and deploys its contractors to meet a wide range of requirements to support our activities. Each engagement is unique to the particular requirements of our business, in order that the deliverables required can be met. Dependent on the requirement, the Department may specify the working hours of its contractors. This will be detailed in advance, so that the contractor understands the engagement before accepting it, and will match the specific business needs of the Department’s requirements. This is one of the many factors that can influence the IR35 status of an engagement which we specify up front, along with control and direction, financial risk and whether a personal service is required.

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