§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will withdraw the draft regulations aimed at clarifying the existing statutory framework for compulsory competitive tendering issued on 16 June to local authorities, and amend them accordingly, following the Government's acceptance of the EC's acquired rights directive;
(2) whether the EC acquired rights directive will be applied retrospectively to all contracts awarded externally by Scottish local authorities under compulsory competitive tendering legislation; and what is his estimate of the number of workers involved in such contracts to date;
(3) what provision is made under the EC acquired rights directive for reinstatement of former pay and conditions to former local authority employees who have been transferred to the private sector under compulsory competitive tendering legislation, and who have suffered a reduction in pay or conditions as a result;
(4) what advice he will provide to Scottish local authorities and other public bodies to enable them to inform interested parties fully in the compulsory competitive tendering process of the implication of the Government's acceptance of the EC's acquired rights directive.
§ Mr. StewartMy right hon. Friend has no plans to withdraw the consultation paper issued on 16 June 1992 which contained detailed proposals for the content of regulations and guidance to clarify the framework for compulsory competitive tendering. The consultation paper reflected our view that it would be most unusual for the provisions of the directive to apply to a normal contract let under the compulsory competitive tendering legislation. Responses to the consultation paper, including those relating to this particular point, will be carefully considered before the regulations and guidance are finalised. The interpretation of the law in its application to the individual case is, however, a matter for the courts.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of former public sector employees in Scotland transferred to the private sector under compulsory competitive tendering legislation; and what proportion of these workers come under the EC's acquired rights directive.
§ Mr. StewartInformation about the number of former public sector employees in Scotland who are now employed in the private sector following the award of contracts under compulsory competitive tendering legislation is not held centrally.
Final year basic student nurses—one year later1; by health board year beginning 30 September Total final year students Status in following year In post2 Further training2 Not in NHS in Scotland3 Participation rate4 (per cent.) 1987 Scotland 2,198 1,608 76 514 76.6 Argyll and Clyde 134 103 3 28 79.1 Ayrshire and Arran 98 89 2 7 92.9 Borders 17 14 0 3 82.4 Dumfries and Galloway 71 44 3 24 66.2 Fife 104 70 3 31 70.2 Forth Valley 90 70 4 16 82.2