HC Deb 26 October 1989 vol 158 cc512-3W
Mr. Charles Wardle

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest estimates of the numbers of elected representatives of Civil Service trade unions in each of the main Government Departments and of the cost of providing paid time off.

Mr. Ryder

The details for 1988–89 are given in the tables which show that the total cost of facility time was £12.67 million. Compared with the position as at 31 March 1988, the total amount of paid time off for union business shows a reduction of 64 man years (6.1 per cent.), with a consequential saving of £0.41 million. This marks the seventh successive year in which facilities costs have been reduced.

Departments 5 per cent, and less 6–10 per cent. 11–20 per cent. 21–30 per cent. 31–40 per cent. 41–50 per cent. 51–60 per cent. 61–70 per cent. 71–80 per cent. 81–90 per cent. 91–99 per cent. 100 per cent. Total Full time equivalent
15. Other Government Departments 1,043 100 60 20 5 21 3 2 2 3 0 17 1,274 101
Total 9,709 1,591 747 212 120 104 18 52 44 59 29 169 12,920 980

Table 2: Costs of non-industrial union elected representatives
Department Total number expressed as whole time equivalent Cost in salaries, wages and direct benefit (£ million) Costs as percentage of wage bill Total number of non-industrial staff at 31 March 1989
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 19 0.30 0.196 9,572
Customs and Excise 67 0.99 0.260 26,416
Ministry of Defence 82 1.17 0.095 88,709
Department of Employment Group 107 1.23 0.181 54,462
Department of Environment/ Transport (excluding PSA) 41 0.59 0.198 19,733
Foreign & Commonwealth Office (including Overseas Development Administration) 13 0.12 0.191 9,443
DHSS 231 2.70 0.250 92,082
Home Office (including Prison Department) 89 1.28 0.206 37,691
Department of Trade and Industry 24 0.35 0.180 12,365
Inland Revenue 120 1.76 0.196 67,035
Lord Chancellor's Department 32 0.22 0.198 10,895
Department for National Savings 22 0.23 0.302 7,242
PSA (including Crown Suppliers) 18 0.28 0.124 13,763
Scottish Office 14 0.16 0.146 6,079
Other Government Departments 101 1.29 0.193 42,809
Total 980 12.67 0.186 498,296