Royal Parks (Hansard, 14 November 1991)

§ Mr. Gould
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 applies to apprentices currently employed in the royal parks; and how many apprentices working in the royal parks received redundancy notices.

§ Mr. Heseltine
I am advised that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 does not apply to the apprentices currently employed in the royal parks. Redundancy notices have been issued to the 27 apprentices, but before contracts are signed I shall require contractors to enter into a deed to maintain apprentice training in the royal parks.

§ Mr. Gould
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost and purpose of the work commissioned from land use consultants into the management of the royal parks; and if he will place a copy of their report in the Library.

§ Mr. Heseltine
Land use consultants have been commissioned by my Department to prepare various reports over the last 10 years on several of the royal parks covering their historical significance, strategy plans for their long term conservation and management, and assessments of staffing needs at the time. Records of the cost of the original historical surveys are no longer available. The cost of the other studies has been £154,000. The reports will form an important framework for the future management of the royal parks by the ground maintenance contractors. I am arranging for copies of the strategy and manpower reports for Regent's park, Hyde park and Kensington gardens, and for the staffing report for St. James's and Green park, to be placed in the Library.

§ Mr. Gould
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many registered disabled workers are currently under redundancy notice in the royal parks; and what plans he has to ensure their continued employment by future contractors.

§ Mr. Heseltine
There are nine staff in the royal parks who are registered disabled and who have received notice of redundancy. All staff who have been made redundant, including those who are disabled, will be granted a job interview with the preferred tenderers, and must be informed of the tenderers' decisions before the contracts are signed. Tenderers will also be required to submit details of their company policy and practice regarding the employment of disabled persons. The Department will therefore be able to take these decisions into account in awarding contracts.