§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the contractors who have submitted a bid for the Patent Office accommodation services, dispatch, support services and filestore; if he will make a statement on the criteria to be used to determine whether such bids offer better value for money; and if he will make a statement. [3496]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorNone of the 12 contractors invited to tender has yet put in a bid for the Patent Office accommodation services, dispatch, support services and filestore. Under the timetable laid down by the EC services directive, bids are not required until early January 1996. The criteria to assess value for money have been sent out in the invitation to tender. They are:
quality of tenderers' proposal, commitment, monitoring and assurance procedures; tenderers' previous relevant experience; financial, commercial and technical capability; TUP implications, such as proposals for the future of former civil service staff; recruitment, vetting and training procedures; conformance to Patent Office terms and conditions; overall price and pricing profile.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the time scale for the proposed contracting out of the marketing and information directorate, the London front office and the information technology sections; and how many staff are involved. [3495]
§ Mr. TaylorNo time scales have yet been set for these projects but the process is likely to be completed by autumn 1996. Up to 80 staff will be involved.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to require any new work undertaken by the Patent Office to be subject to consultation with trades unions regarding the implications for staff; and if he will make a statement. [3497]
161W
§ Mr. TaylorIt would be the usual practice of Patent Office management to consult staff and their representatives about any new work undertaken by the agency which has major implications for the staff.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria will be used by Patent Office management to assess staff who have applied for voluntary redundancy; what number and grades will be involved; what time limits are applicable; and if he will make a statement about the future of the services currently offered by the Patent Office. [3498]
§ Mr. TaylorUnder the terms of its framework agreement, the Patent Office operates the Department's policies for retirement and redundancy. In its current voluntary severance exercise, the essential criterion has been the operational requirement of the office—whether there was a continuing need for a post now and in the foreseeable future and whether that post had to be filled by an established civil servant. Forty eight staff in the executive, clerical and support grades have accepted offers of voluntary severance. Sixteen appeals against refusal of severance terms are under consideration. Severance will take effect from 31 June 1996. The exercise is part of the Patent Office's continuing efforts to maintain and improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of its service to customers.