Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency (Hansard, 17 January 1996)

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the benefits of privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services, agency. [8328]

§ Mr. Willetts
Privatisation offers the best way to develop the potential of RAS. Freed from public sector constraints, it will be able to compete for business in wider markets, both public and private, offer new opportunities for investment and allow for the introduction of more flexible use of staff resources. Customer departments will benefit from the opportunities for improving performance that privatisation will bring. In reaching these conclusions, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster received advice from financial advisers and customer departments.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department will retain ownership of the tests carried out by the Recruitment and Assessment660W Services agency if it is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [8436]

§ Mr. Willetts
The Government will retain ownership of the tests.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if all the functions of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency are to be sold on its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8493]

§ Mr. Willetts
Yes. The services provided by the agency will transfer to the private sector.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the length of the term of contract to the successful bidder of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency if it is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [8434]

§ Mr. Willetts
This will be decided during the sale process in the light of customers' views and advice from financial and legal advisers.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what value he has set on the skill of Recruitment and Assessment Services agency staff for the purposes of privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8475]

§ Mr. Willetts
The skills of RAS staff are vital to its business. The valuation placed on the business will recognise this.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the staff of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency were consulted in advance prior to the announcement of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8435]

§ Mr. Willetts
No. The decision to privatise the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency reflected the view reached by Ministers that privatisation was the best way to secure the long-term interests of the staff and customers, as well as those of the taxpayer.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what factors led him to set the time scale for privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency; and if he will make a statement. [8527]

§ Mr. Willetts
To keep the period of uncertainty for RAS staff and customers to a minimum.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what public consultation process has been arranged in respect of privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency; and if he will make a statement; [8327]
(2) what length of notice customers' organisations of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency were given regarding its intended privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8437]

§ Mr. Willetts
Major customers were consulted before the decision to privatise. The consultation provided adequate time for them to express views. There will be continuing close consultation with customers during the privatisation process. The principle of selection on merit by fair and open competition, to which the Government are committed, is not affected by the proposed privatisation.