Education department doesn't know total cost of supply teachers

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture says it doesn't know how much supply teachers cost over the last five years.

A Freedom of Information request asked for the cost of supply teachers for primary and secondary schools.

The education department said supply teachers were paid between £28.52 an hour and £36.45 an hour,.

But it said it didn't have a total amount spent on supply teachers, and suggested the Cabinet Office might have the figure.