§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has had any recent discussions with the relevant unions about the replacement of Scottish Office cleaners by contract cleaners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerDiscussions with the union are proceeding at official level. My officials are to meet officials of the Civil Service Union again on Friday, 17 July.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been saved so far by replacing Scottish Office cleaners by contract cleaners; and how much in total he anticipates saving.
§ Mr. YoungerSince 1980 the annual saving in replacing directly employed cleaners by contract cleaning in one office is calculated to be just over £15,000. I expect the annual saving at five offices where a move to contract cleaning is in prospect to be around £100,000.
§ Mr. Strang;asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cleaning staff in the Scottish Office have been given notice of redundancy since his decision to employ contract cleaners; and how much he estimates the cost of the redundancy payments will be.
§ Mr. YoungerThe services of 29 casually employed cleaners have been dispensed with, but the question of redundancy payments has not yet arisen.