HL Deb 08 February 1999 vol 597 cc6-7

2.53

Lord Merrivale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the provisions of the Gibraltar Employment Ordinance were not adhered to in the transfer of the local workforce from Balfour Beatty to Hyder under the new Ministry of Defence contract.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)

My Lords, I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that the provisions of the Gibraltar Employment Ordinance were not adhered to in the transfer of the workforce from Balfour Beatty to Hyder. The transfer of the local workforce following the award of the work services management contract to Hyder is a matter entirely between themselves and Balfour Beatty. However, the M. D has secured assurances from Hyder that the company will discharge its obligations under the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he confirm that the directly employed labour force of 68, previously employed by Balfour Beatty, will be retained as a unit for the duration of the contract, as mentioned to me last Monday by the managing director of Hyder, Mr. Frederick Psyk? Will he also give an assurance that there is no question of employing casual temporary labour from across the border, to the detriment of local sub-contractors and workers, again as was said to me by the managing director of Hyder?

Lord Gilbert

My Lords, my figures are slightly different from the noble Lord's. I understood that 87 employees were involved, not 68. However, maybe the figure is 68. Yes, the noble Lord is right. The company is taking the entire number, and I can assure the noble Lord that they will be there for the full term of the contract. As regards bringing in workers from across the border, given what the Spanish authorities have done at the border, I should have thought that it would be rather difficult for them to get through at present.

Lord Islwyn

My Lords, does the Minister appreciate that the correct pronunciation of the company in question is "hudder" not "hider"?

Lord Gilbert

My Lords, I should have thought that the Spanish pronunciation would be "ee-dare"!