Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff in his Department and its executive agencies and associated bodies were engaged off-payroll in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available.

New tighter rules governing ‘off-payroll’ appointments in central government were established in May 2012 when the Chief Secretary to the Treasury published the Review of the Tax Arrangements of Public Sector Appointees.

The recommendations of the Review mean that the most senior staff must go on the payroll, and departments are now able to seek assurance in relation to the tax arrangements of their long-term, high paid contractors.

The Treasury has carried out two evaluations of compliance with the rules which were published on 11 March 2014 and 5 March 2015. The most recent review revealed that the large majority of central government departments are operating the rules effectively. The Treasury issued £3 million in fines in 2014 and 2015 to a small number of departments who did not fully comply with the requirements of the guidance.

Data on the number of off payroll staff engaged in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and its Partner Organisations since August 2012 has been published in BIS Annual Reports and Accounts:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bis-tax-arrangements-for-off-payroll-appointees-august-2012-to-march-2013

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bis-tax-arrangements-for-off-payroll-appointees-april-2013-to-march-2014

Earlier data is not available.