§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what date he expects the proposed contractorisation of atomic weapons establishments to commence and to be completed.
§ Mr. NeubertThe invitations to tender for the interim AWE management contract due to commence later this year will be issued shortly. The timing of the subsequent transfer to full contractorisation is dependent on the passage of legislation but will not be before 1992.
§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with the 525W trade unions representing personnel in the atomic weapons establishments; and if he will guarantee their pension rights when these establishments are contractorised.
§ Mr. NeubertA consultative document was issued to trades unions on 5 December 1989. Although no formal response has yet been received, a preliminary consultative meeting with the non-industrial trades unions took place on 11 January and joint consultative committees are being set up to discuss the Government's proposals for the future of AWE.
Staff who are transferred out of the Civil Service cannot remain in the principal Civil Service pension scheme (PCSPS). It is the Government's intention to make available to AWE staff at the time of contractorisation new pension arrangements which would provide benefits which, taken as a whole, would be no less favourable than those of the PCSPS. Proposals for future pension arrangements will be subject to full consultation with trades unions.