Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last five years.

The majority of expenditure with recruitment agencies represents payment to the individuals employed. We are unable to separately identify the element retained by the recruitment agency as fees. This varies from case to case and the Department contracts on the basis of a total hourly or daily fee. The recruitment principles published by the Civil Service Commission specify the circumstances when appointments may be made otherwise. Further information about the work of the Civil Service Commissioners can be found at www.civilservicecommissioners.org

The Department made payment to an outplacement agency in 2014-15 only. Prior to using the outplacement agency, the Department used the Civil Service Transition Service to provide career counselling redeployment support with no associated costs to the Department.

Figures for 2009 -10 to 2013-14 for staff training are published in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.