§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons ex-staff of the Transport Research Laboratory are being re-employed either directly or through external agents following recent staff reductions; what is the number of those ex-staff re-employed on a full or part-time basis; and what is the cost of this re-employment. [18704]
§ Mr. NorrisThis is an operational matter for the Transport Research Laboratory.
I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Wootton to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 19 April 1995:
You asked a Parliamentary Question about the re-employment of former staff of the Transport Research Laboratory following recent staff reductions. The Minister for Local Transport and Road Safety has asked me to reply.The staff reductions at TRL, which were necessary because of the reduced demand for the Laboratory's services, have led to the reorganisation of work in some areas and some transitional problems. As a result, 17 former staff are currently being re-employed directly on a part-time basis to meet short term pressures of work. The cost of this re-employment under fixed term contracts will be £129k. In addition, TRL are presently using the services on 16 former staff through external agents or contractors, 2 on a full-time basis, the remainder on a part-time basis. These former staff are engaged to undertake specific tasks of a limited duration and for which resources are in the main not required on a regular basis. The cost of employing these former staff through agencies or contractors varies month to month; the cost in March 1995 was £29k.I hope this satisfactorily answers your enquiry.