§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the industrial action taken by officers of the Liverpool nationality department on Friday 23 March and Monday 26 March.
§ Mr. Peter LloydOn 31 January, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) at column205, my right hon. and learned Friend announced that the nationality work of the immigration and nationality department would be concentrated in the existing Liverpool nationality office. On 2 March, following initial discussions with the trade 794W union side of the immigration and nationality department Whitley council, a letter was sent to the trade union side setting out the Department's detailed proposals for the transfer of work from Lunar house, Croydon to the Liverpool nationality office and for the consequential staffing arrangements. A response to that letter is awaited.
In the week beginning 19 March, some problems arose over the transfer of work and some members of staff of the Liverpool office did not attend for duty during the afternoon of 23 March or on 26 March. A meeting was held between management and the trade union side on 26 March, following which a joint statement on the future handling of the relocation was agreed. The staff who had been taking industrial action returned to work the following day.