§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Peter ThomasFour. These were:
Courtneys (Courtney Bros. South Wales) Ltd.
Cardiff & Castle Cleaning Co.
Hawksworth's Services.
Office Cleaning Services (Wales) Ltd.
Altogether 11 firms have tendered over the period.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Peter ThomasThe information requested is not readily available and would be both difficult and expensive to obtain.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Peter ThomasThis is not the basis on which estimates are made. Build-228W ings are separately treated and after the basic method of cleaning has been settled no record is kept of comparative costs.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Peter ThomasFacilities for trade union recruitment and organisation are granted to recognised unions in respect of civil servants. My Department is not responsible 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.