HC Deb 04 August 1972 vol 842 cc217-8W
Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contractors have succeeded in obtaining contracts for office cleaning in his Department in the last five years; whether he will publish their names; and how many firms tendered.

Mr. Kershaw

Four firms have obtained contracts for cleaning in London during the last four years. They are: 1. Strand Cleaning Services Ltd.; 2. Cleaners Ltd.; 3. Acme Industrial Cleaners Ltd.; 4. Office Cleaning Services Ltd. An average of seven firms have tendered for each contract.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will state the annual percentage increase in contract prices for cleaning his Department's offices in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and how this compares with the annual percentage wage increase of maintenance staff actually employed by his Department.

Mr. Kershaw

This information is not readily available but an initial examination of figures to hand shows that the increase in contract prices has varied between nil and 10 per cent. per annum. Average percentage wage increase of cleaners employed by my Department over the same period varied between 3 per cent. and 17 per cent. per annum.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the annual saving to his Department by employing contractors to do office cleaning instead of employing cleaners as part of his staff.

Mr. Kershaw

None. Each building is looked at separately and once a decision has been made on the method of cleaning to be employed, records of alternative costs are not maintained.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will allow facilities for trade union recruitment and organisation on the premises of his Department during hours in which cleaners are employed.

Mr. Kershaw

Facilities for trade union recruitment and organisation are granted to recognised unions in respect of civil servants. My Department is not responsibile for such arrangements in respect of employees of contractors: but if any contractor asks for help in providing similar facilities on my Department's premises in respect of his employees who work there, I will consider his request.