HC Deb 15 July 1991 vol 195 cc9-11W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff were in the Crown Suppliers furnishing business on 15 August 1990.

Mr. Yeo

There were 493 industrial and non-industrial staff in post in TCS Contract Furnishing on 15 August 1990.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Crown Suppliers staff who transferred into Property Services Agency building management have now left the civil service on principal civil service pension scheme early retirement and severance terms.

Mr. Yeo

Seventy-six of the Crown Suppliers staff who transferred to building management have left the civil service on early retirement or severance terms.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what auditing arrangements apply to the preparation of Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing for privatisation and eventual closure.

Mr. Yeo

The accounts of the Crown Suppliers, and costs in respect of any residual activities, are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. An internal audit presence remained throughout the closure process.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Crown Suppliers furnishing staff left the civil service under the principal civil service pension scheme early retirement and severence scheme terms in the first seven months of 1990 prior to the closure announcement.

Mr. Yeo

From 1 January to 14 August 1990, 85 Crown Suppliers furnishing staff left on early retirement and severence terms.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected cost excluding index-linking of annual compensation payments to design and furnishing staff until their retirement age.

Mr. Yeo

A total of £7,916,000.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the purchase value of all stocks of furniture and equipment held by Crown Suppliers furnishing business on 15 August 1990.

Mr. Yeo

A total of £7,873,000, excluding VAT.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Crown Suppliers staff have left the civil service on principal civil service pension scheme early retirement and severence terms from 15 August 1990 to date.

Mr. Yeo

From 15 August 1990 to date the following industrial and non-industrial staff have the Crown Suppliers on early retirement and early severence terms:

Number
TCS Contract Furnishing 256
The Buying Agency 15
TCS Transport Services 69
340

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of annual compensation payments made under the early retirement rules of the principal civil service pension scheme to design and furnishing staff, Crown Suppliers staff generally, and Crown Suppliers furnishing staff separately, since 1 January.

Mr. Yeo

The information is as follows:

£
Design and Furnishing Staff 471,000
Crown Suppliers Staff generally 4,000
Crown Suppliers Furnishing Staff 42,000

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many design and furnishing, professional and technical officers transferred out of Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing into Property Services Agency Building Management on 1 January 1989.

Mr. Yeo

A total of 108 design and furnishing, professional and technical officers were transferred to PSA Building Management on 1 January 1989.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the cost has been so far, excluding early retirement and severance payments, of closing down the Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing business.

Mr. Yeo

The cost to the end of June 1991 was £10,400,000.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what money was realised from the sale of Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing stocks of furnituree and equipment disposed of after the closure announcement.

Mr. Yeo

A total of £6,460,000, excluding VAT.