§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the jobs that have been lost to agencies in his Department in the past two years that have(a) been taken over by contractors and (b) disappeared. [18332]
§ Mr. HoramThis question concerns operational matters and I have asked the chief executives of agencies in my Departments to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. N. Edwards to Mr. Paul Flynn, Dated 3 April 1995:
No Jobs have been taken over by contractors since April 1993 at Chessington Computer Centre (an Agency of the OPSS).69 jobs have disappeared through efficiency and productivity initiatives since April 1993.Letter from S. H. F. Hickey To Mr. Paul Flynn, Dated 31 March 1995:
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply for the Civil Service College to your Question about job losses in agencies (Ref PQ18332)Over the past two years no jobs at the Civil Service College have been newly taken over by contactors. There has been a small increase in the overall numbers of staff employed at the College due to a substantial increase in the amount of training and related consultancy that we have undertaken.Letter from Mike Devereau to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 3 April 1995:
You asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he would list the number of jobs that have been lost by his agencies in the last two years that have been (a) taken over by contractors and (b) disappeared.As this is an operational matter I have been asked to reply for the Central Office of Information.In March 1995 there were 493 permanent staff in COI against 583 in April 1993.No jobs have been lost as a direct result of market testing. The reduction in staff numbers is the result of:
- a) improvements in efficiency
- b) increase in the employment of contract staff to cope with the volatility of volume and nature of work.
- a) cessation or reduction of function
COI does not maintain a staff complement and cannot realistically identify individual jobs lost or gained. Managers are constantly reviewing job functions and reassigning work in the light of current needs. The services provided to government by COI are constantly changing and there is no way of telling whether jobs now are the same as those that existed two years ago.I hope this information is helpful.Letter from Paul Freeman to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 3 April 1995:
984WI have been asked to reply to your question tabled on 30 March (N 95) regarding jobs lost in Agencies insofar as HMSO is concerned.HMSO trades in a dynamic environment and jobs are frequently changing as a result of business imperatives. Some jobs disappear as a consequence of greater IT sophistication, changing technology, reorganisation or because contracts are lost; others are formed to meet new requirements, to progress new initiatives, to enhance service or to service new contracts.In the provision of printing services, in particular, some work is performed in-house and some is contracted out. This balance is constantly changing, and it is not possible to identify particular jobs.The overall position is that on 31 December 1992, the total staff employed by HMSO (including temporary staff) was 3,174 and by 31 December 1994, this had fallen to 2,906.Letter from Dr. Elizabeth McCloy to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 31 March 1995:
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your question about jobs lost in the past two years.In that period, the Civil Service Occupational Health and Safety Agency has lost three jobs. They were at the Atomic Weapons Establishment where my Agency was unsuccessful in retaining the provision of occupational health services. Only one of the posts was filled on a permanent basis and that incumbent has secured employment with the successful contractor.Letter from Craig Muir to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 3 April 1995:
Your Parliamentary Question of 30 March asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster:if he will list the jobs that have been lost to agencies in his Department in the past two years that have (a) been taken over by contractors, and (b) disappeared.I have been asked to write in reply in relation to Recruitment and Assessment Services.In the last two years, 6 posts have been taken over by contractors due to the market testing exercise of Reprographics won by HMSO.We have also reduced staffing by 45 posts as a result of rationalisation of the Agency's working methods. A detailed breakdown of staffing numbers is attached.
Grades 31 March 1993 31 March 1994 31 March 1995 G6 4 3 3 G7 15.5 16.5 15 SEN PSYCH 3 2 1 SEO 7 3 3 HEO 9 7 7 EO 31.5 25 25 AO 46 38 36 AA 24 20 16.5 TYPIST 9 5 5 SIO 1 0.5 0.5 IO 1 0 0 SM2 1 0 0 SG1 8 3 3 SG2 14.5 11.5 8.5 Totals (exclusive causals) 174.5 134.5 123.5