HC Deb 23 January 1996 vol 270 cc168-9W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement. [9145]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Responsibility for this matter is delegated to agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply to the hon. Member direct.

Letter from P. I. Stanley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996: ACTION TO SAFEGUARD THE PROVISION OF PRE-RETIREMENT COURSES You asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses. The Minister has asked me to reply to you in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible. CSL has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Establishments Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Under this MOU the Ministry's Welfare Branch is required to invite CSL staff aged 58 years and over to attend pre-retirement courses at some stage during their last two years of employment. Whilst staff are encouraged to attend such courses there is no compulsion to do so. There are no proposals at present to alter these arrangements. In cases of Voluntary Early Retirement or Severance the Department has negotiated with consultants to provide counselling and career services and with financial advisers to provide independent advice to Agency staff. Again this is on a voluntary basis and there is no compulsion on staff to take advantage of the services offered.

Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996: The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on action being taken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (known as the Central Veterinary Laboratory until 30 September 1995) to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses. MAFF provides pre-retirement courses which staff from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency attend as appropriate, and for which the Agency repays the service provider.

Letter from C. J. Lawson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996: In my Chief Executive's absence, the Minister has asked me to reply to your question about pre-retirement courses for staff of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). This is an operational matter for which my chief executive is responsible. (9145) The VMD has a formal agreement with the Establishments Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the provision of personnel services. Under this agreement the Welfare branch of the Ministry is required to invite all VMD staff aged 57 or over (or otherwise if appropriate) to "Preparation for Retirement" seminars. This arrangement works well and VMD staff have benefited from the pre-retirement courses run by the Ministry. There are no proposals to change this arrangement.

Letter form G. K. Bruce to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question about the provision of pre-retirement courses for staff within the Agency. (9145) PSD has a Service Level Agreement with its parent Department—the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Under this agreement the Welfare Branch of the Ministry is required to invite all PSD staff aged 57 or over (or otherwise if appropriate) to "Preparation for Retirement" seminars. This arrangement works well and I am not aware of any proposal to change it.

Letter from P. Needham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to you concerning your Parliamentary question (PQ384) in which you asked what action heads of his Department's Executive Agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses.(9145) ADAS will continue to offer pre-retirement courses as appropriate.

Letter from J. McNeill to Mr. M. Redmond, dated 23 January 1996: As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service, your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning pre-retirement courses has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency.(9145) As you may know, the Meat Hygiene Service was established on 1 April 1995. The Agency is committed to the providing staff with suitable preparation for retirement and intends to make use of MAFF's training facilities in this respect, as the need arises.