§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of Government Communications Headquarters are being considered for transfer to other posts on the grounds of their refusal to give up union membership; how many staff have been transferred to other posts; by what date he expects there to be no union members employed at the headquarters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindTransfers are being sought for 71 staff at GCHQ who have so far not accepted the revised terms and conditions of service introduced there on 25 January 1984. Ten staff have already been transferred to other posts in the Civil Service.
The decision of the House of Lords on 22 November confirms that the revised conditions of service at GCHQ are valid. It is our intention that these should be fully implemented. GCHQ will endeavour to find alternative posts within the Civil Service for those who do not wish to remain at GCHQ under the new conditions. There may be some for whom suitable positions cannot be found and they will be offered premature retirement on redundancy terms. This process may take some time and it is not possible to predict when it will be completed.