Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which five companies were used most often to provide temporary workers for his Department in the last financial year; and how much in agency fees was paid to each of them.

Temporary staff can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not available inhouse. They are only used for short term appointments where there is a strong business case, such as support for Transforming Rehabilitation and other major reform programmes within the MoJ.

The Ministry of Justice has spent the following on the provision of service with (a) Capita, (b) Brook Street, (c) Hays PLC (d) Groupe Steria and (e) Certes Holdings in the Financial Year 2013/14. Spend is exclusive of VAT.

The approval process on expenditure has been tightened in recent years. All requirements over £20,000 must have departmental approval from the Director General of Finance.