Mr Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General how many full-time equivalent staff were employed on consultancy contracts of the Law Officers' Departments on the latest date for which figures are available; how many such staff were employed on the same date 12 months ago; and if he will make a statement.

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a consultancy contract with one individual as at 30 November 2012. The contract is for approximately 20 days work between the periods 1 August 2012 to 31 July 2013. No staff had been employed on a consultancy contract on 30 November 2011.

As at 31 October the Serious Fraud Office was not employing any staff on consultancy contracts. In October 2011, a full-time equivalent of 2.3 staff were employed on a consultancy basis.

The remaining Law Officers' Departments do not currently employ anyone on a consultancy contract and the same position applied as at 31 October 2011.