§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation with staff unions occurred prior to the announcement on 28 April that the Passport Agency was to be privatised or market tested.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe trade union side of the Home Office departmental Whitley Council was informed in a letter of 23 April 1993 of plans to review future options for the activities of the United Kingdom Passport Agency, including an examination of the scope for privatisation or market testing, as part of the process leading to a review of the agency's framework document. The trade union side of the Whitley Committee for the Passport Agency were informed of these plans at the same time.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if staff unions will have an opportunity to study either the emerging findings or the scoping, report prior to any market-testing exercises at the Passport Agency.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeEmerging findings and scoping study reports of any market tests associated with the Passport Agency will be made available to the unions provided they do not bear any security or confidentiality classification.