§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence why royal ordnance factories are being prevented from recruiting permanent staff; whether it is his policy to take on casual employees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieThe Minister of Defence's manpower policy is for the royal ordnance factories to recruit additional staff on a casual basis at this stage of the preparation for Companies Act status. A decision on when to resume permanent recruitment will be taken in the light of progress towards the change of status. Staff recruited on a casual basis will then be able to apply for permanent posts when these become available.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent visits officials of his Department have made to royal ordnance factories for discussions with trade union representatives; what were the reasons for such visits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieVisits by officials to royal ordnance factories are made on a regular basis as a part of the normal business of the Department. I believe, however, that the hon. Member is referring to visits to several ROFs made recently by the deputy under-secretary of state responsible for civilian management in the MOD. These were familiarisation visits undertaken at the invitation of the managing director ROFs, but they included an opportunity for senior management to discuss directly with representatives of the work force the personnel aspects of the proposed change of status of the ROFs which are currently the subject of consultation with the trades unions at departmental level.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 12 July, Official Report, c. 167–68, what will be the effect on terms and conditions of service of royal ordnance factory employees of his proposed privatisation scheme; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. PattieThe consultative document on the personnel aspects of the ROF change of status issued in October 1982 stated the Government's intention that
the transfer shall not result in a worsening of the terms and conditions taken as a whole which existing ROF employees enjoy at that time".The move to Companies Act status will necessarily lead to some modification of terms which are specific to Crown employment, but any such changes will be the subject of full consultation with the trades unions concerned.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the effect on pensions of royal ordnance factory employees following privatisation; what will be the situation regarding carry-over pension rights in a possible new company; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieThe consultative document issued in October 1982 stated that staff who are transferred from the Civil Service cannot remain in the principal Civil Service pension scheme. The successor organisation will need to set up its own pension scheme for transferred staff, and it is the intention that its provision should, as far as possible, provide benefits comparable to those of the PCSPS. This would include provision for index linking. Staff will have the choice of transferring their accrued benefits under the PCSPS for their service in the Civil Service to the new pension scheme or, if they have five or more years' service, their benefits can be preserved, uprated in line with future increases in Civil Service pensions and paid to them when they reach the age of 60. A separate consultative document is being prepared as the basis of full consultation with the trades unions on pension matters before final decisions are taken on the precise nature and provisions of the new scheme.