HC Deb 18 December 1995 vol 268 cc865-6W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what methodology is in place to produce a benchmark in the Patent Office in respect of the contracting-out procedure; if the guidelines laid down by the National Audit Office will be adhered to; and if he will make a statement. [5840)

Mr. Ian Taylor

Benchmarking of in-house services will follow guidance issued by HM Treasury, the office of Public Service, and the Department of Trade and Industry. The calculation of any benchmark will be open to National Audit Office scrutiny and must follow any guidelines laid down by that office.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the dates over the last two years when he and other Ministers in his Department have met with elected trade union representatives at the Patent Office. [5842]

Mr. Ian Taylor

There have been no meetings between Ministers of the Department of Trade and Industry and Trade Union representatives in the last two years.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make arrangements for elected trade union representatives to be included in staff/management meetings in connection with the contractorisation of the facilities' management services section at the Patent Office. [5837]

Mr. Ian Taylor

In any contracting out exercise, the Patent Office management will follow the terms of the 1989 DTI agreement on consultation on proposals for contracting out.