HC Deb 03 February 1995 vol 253 cc922-3W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Transport Research Laboratory has to recruit staff during 1995; at what grade and discipline; what are the costs of recruitment exercises planned; and whether they will be undertaken by the private sector.

Mr. Norris

The Transport Research Laboratory is preparing its business plan, for 1995–96 and, as part of this process, is reviewing the skills and resources required to meet the demands of its customers.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff by grade and discipline were given earlly retirement in 1994 by the Transport Research Laboratory; what was the total costs of these early retirement measures; and what is his estimate of the number and costs of early retirement planned for 1995.

Mr. Norris

The information requested is given in the following table.

Discipline Grade Number
Scientific staff Assistant Scientific Officer 2
Scientific Officer 5
Higher Scientific Officer 8
Senior Scientific Officer 10
Grade 7 (Principal Scientific Officer) 6
Grade 6 3
Total Scientific staff 34
Technical staff Professional and Technical Officer 2
Higher Professional and Technical Officer 2
Librarian 1
Photographer 1
Total Technical staff 6
Administrative staff Telephonist 1
Administrative Officer 8

Discipline Grade Number
Personal Secretary
Executive Officer 6
Higher Executive 2
Officer 2
Total Administrative staff 21
Industrial staff Craft 20
Non-craft 28
Total Industrial staff 48
Total staff 109

The total cost of these early retirements which are being made in 1994–95 is £3.8 million. The Transport Research Laboratory has no plans for further early retirements.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated staff surplus(a) in his Department as a whole and (b) at the Transport Research Laboratory.

Mr. Norris

The information requested is not yet available.