The Authority can lend or borrow employees on a ________ basis.

The concept of lending or borrowing employees between organizations for temporary assignments is crucial. Deputation is the correct term, referring to the temporary transfer of an employee from one department or organization to another, often for a specific period or task, while the employee retains their original employment status with the parent organization.

• Permanent: This implies a full, indefinite transfer of employment, which is not what "lending or borrowing" signifies.
• Contractual: This refers to hiring an individual under a specific contract, not the temporary transfer of an existing employee.
• Voluntary: While an employee might volunteer for deputation, "voluntary" describes the employee's choice, not the administrative basis of the transfer itself.

Deputation accurately describes the temporary inter-organizational transfer of staff.