Departmental Staff (Hansard, 5 July 1984)

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees in his Department are currently taking part in job-share schemes.

§ Mr. Butler
No employees of the Northern Ireland Office or Northern Ireland Departments are currently taking part in job-sharing. Job-sharing is, however, one of the issues being examined by way of follow-up in the Northern Ireland Civil Service to the report of the joint review group on the employment of women in the Civil Service.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vacancies in his Department have been filled through the job release scheme in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

§ Mr. Butler
The information in respect of the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows: 253W

Number

1981 50

1982 167

1983 107

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any of those working in his Department are young people on the youth training scheme.

§ Mr. Butler
The youth training programme in Northern Ireland is a separate but parallel training initiative to the youth training scheme operating in Great Britain. Participation by Northern Ireland Departments in the youth training programme began in December 1983, on a pilot basis. The scheme, currently operating in three Northern Ireland Departments, offers training places to 51 young people drawn from local further education colleges.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees in his Department are currently allowed day release facilities or other assistance to encourage them to continue their education.

§ Mr. Butler
A total of 1,264 Northern Ireland Civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments are currently engaged in formal education courses with departmental assistance. This total comprises 440 staff studying by day release and 824 staff studying mainly or wholly in their own time.
Eleven home Civil Servants in the Northern Ireland Office are continuing their education with departmental assistance, of whom three are studying by day release and eight are studying mainly in their own time.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total cost to his

(a) Job vacancies (b) Other reasons

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84

Department of Finance and Personnel^* 104,534 88,051 104,257 107,320 96,437 39,000 41,000 42,000 55,968 54,164

Department of Economic Development — — — — — 734,000 309,000 851,000 771,000 1,432,000

Department of Health and Social Services — — 545 130 851 37,675 26,948 50,959 65,695 87,916

Department of Education — — — — — 2,298 1,335 2,126 1,874 2,492

Department of Agriculture — — — 3,600 2,100 28,500 30,800 36,500 37,900 43,400

^* The Department of Finance and Personnel are responsible for the cost of advertising on behalf of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Commissioners who recruit staff to the Northern Ireland non-industrial civil service.

	(a) Job vacancies	(b) Other reasons
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Department of Finance and Personnel^*	104,534	88,051	104,257	107,320	96,437	39,000	41,000	42,000	55,968	54,164
Department of Economic Development	—	—	—	—	—	734,000	309,000	851,000	771,000	1,432,000
Department of Health and Social Services	—	—	545	130	851	37,675	26,948	50,959	65,695	87,916
Department of Education	—	—	—	—	—	2,298	1,335	2,126	1,874	2,492
Department of Agriculture	—	—	—	3,600	2,100	28,500	30,800	36,500	37,900	43,400
^* The Department of Finance and Personnel are responsible for the cost of advertising on behalf of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Commissioners who recruit staff to the Northern Ireland non-industrial civil service.