§ 35. Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations about conditions for contract cleaners employed by Her Majesty's Government he has now had from the Cleaners' Action Group; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department (Mr. Kenneth Baker)I have received no representations from the Cleaners' Action Group.
§ Mr. DalyellI am not surprised, because the people we have talked to are concerned about their jobs and want to remain anonymous. Does not the fact remain that many of the conditions which operate for cleaners are almost Dickensian and that it is about time the Government looked not only at their own department but at the contractors who work for some of the most famous firms in the country? Could not some kind of serious inquiry be set up to look at cleaners' conditions?
§ Mr. BakerI am concerned about cleaners' conditions in the Civil Service. I am satisfied that they operate well and 450 I have nothing but praise for the splendid job the cleaners do. My responsibility is in the public sector. I am not responsible for conditions in the private sector.