§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he has made to notify former Skills Training Agency employees of the extension to the preferential reinstatement arrangements for staff employed by Astra Training Services Ltd.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe decision to extend the preferential reinstatement arrangements for staff employed by Astra Training Services was announced to Parliament on 17 January 1994,Official Report, column 427. Those staff employed by Astra Training Services who had already been in touch with the Department inquiring about prospects for reinstatement were informed personally of the extension. The departmental trade unions were notified formally on 25 January and their assistance sought to ensure that those affected were made aware of the announcement.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers and grades of former Skills Training Agency employees who have applied for preferential reinstatement to the Department of Employment since 1 January and the numbers and grades of those who have consequently been reinstated; and whether he will extend the arrangements for a further period.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe preferential reinstatement terms gave former Astra staff the right to consideration for posts within reasonable travelling distance of their home. Applications for reinstatement have been handled locally and no central register maintained. The information requested is not readily available, but I will write to the hon. Member in due course. When the extension was agreed it was anticipated that only a very small number of former Skills Training Agency staff were likely to benefit from these arrangements. I do know that some have done450W so. Although the period of the extension has now expired, the Department will continue to seek to find posts under the preferential terms until the end of the year for those who applied before the expiry date.