HC Deb 25 July 1972 vol 841 cc287-8W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent the staff and workers employed at the St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press have Civil Service conditions of employment so far as holidays, sickness and pensions benefits, and trade union printing conditions, and so far as pay and other working conditions are concerned.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Non-industrial staff at St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press have full Civil Service conditions of employment.

Industrial staff have the appropriate Civil Service conditions for superannuation, sickness privilege and special leave, but their pay and other conditions are negotiated separately.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many composing room keyboard operators are on night shift at St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press, and what are their average weekly wages.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Twenty-two linotype operators and four monotype operators.

The average weekly wage including overtime for the period April to June, 1972 was £80.04 gross for the linotype operators and £57.96 gross for the monotype operators.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what has been the average number of absentees from night duty in the St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press during the past six months due to leave, sickness and other stated reasons; whether, when absent, these employees are entitled to take other work on newspapers; and whether they can receive salaries whilst so engaged.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

The average number of absences from night duty for industrial staff during the past six months has been 25.3 per night. Of these 12.8 were due to sickness, 10.8 to leave and 1.7 for other reasons.

It is not known whether any staff are employed as casual labouron newspaper production. In common with other civil servants they would contravene their conditions of employment if they were to undertake any other paid employment during sick leave from the Press, but this is not prohibited during annual or priviledge leave or during their own spare time, as long as such employment does not impair the performance of their official duties.