Written question asked by Hugh Bayley (Labour) on Monday, 23 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 November 2009. It was answered by Diana Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 December 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Departmental Scientists

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) scientific advisers and (b) civil servants in scientific posts there are in his Department.

Answer: This Department has one scientific adviser, our chief scientific adviser. There are no 'hard' scientific posts in the Department, although we have a large number of social science posts. At the end of October 2009, there were 218 specialists in social scientific disciplines (economics, statistics, social research and operational research) in the DCSF, including our chief scientific adviser. In addition, there are nine specialists in social scientific disciplines in the joint DCSF/DWP Child Poverty Unit. All of these specialists are civil servants.

Secondary information