FURTHER education colleges spent at least £65 million on agency staff last year, according to figures just released.

The information was obtained by the public sector union Unison under the Freedom of Information Act.

The union said 170 colleges replied to its request for 2010-11, and spent a total of £64,613,485.

The biggest spender was Leeds City College with £2.77 million and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology on £2.2 million.

Kirklees College, which has centres in Huddersfield and Dewsbury, spent £555,822, according to the union.

There are 251 further education colleges, meaning the total bill will be even higher.

The union said college staff have seen their incomes fall in real terms by up to £3,100 over two years, and the cost of living rise by 9.4 per cent.

They are also facing the constant threat of job cuts.

The unions are warning colleges that using agencies is a costly way of employing staff.

Agencies regularly charge fees as much as three times the cost of direct employment.

Colleges also have to pay 20 per cent VAT on agency bills.

Unison head of education Jon Richards said: “Colleges are claiming they cannot afford to relieve the pressure on workers and their families by giving them a pay rise.

“These staff will be rightly shocked that colleges have tens of millions to spend on agency workers and on VAT bills.

“It is time for colleges to stop wasting money and manage their budgets so they can pay workers fairly and safeguard jobs.”