HC Deb 10 December 1992 vol 215 cc741-2W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to which of those of his Department's activities due to be market-tested by 30 September 1993 the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive 77/189/EEC will apply.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 9 December 1992]: It is too early to say whether the EC acquired rights directive 77/187 and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981—TUPE—will apply to any of the Department's activities due to be market-tested before 30 September 1993. The nature, scope and terms and conditions for market-testing each activity will be carefully considered in a case-by-case basis by the Department's legal advisers to determine whether they amount simply to contracting-out, or involve the transfer of an undertaking or part of an undertaking to which the TUPE regulations will apply.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a timetable showing when he plans to market-test those activities listed for testing before 30 September 1993.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 9 December 1992]: Market-testing of the following activities, of which the main ones are listed under my Department in Cm 2101, is expected to have been completed by the end of September 1993:

  • Accommodation Facilities Management
  • Accountants
  • Central Reprographics
  • Conveyancing
  • Design, Drawing and Print Services
  • Economists
  • Professional Property Services
  • Registry Services
  • Statistical Support Services
  • Training
  • Travel Services
  • Workshops and Stores

All these market-testing exercises are well under way and are proceeding as planned. The Department expects to invite tenders for these functions in the period February to June 1993 if they are shown to be viable areas for testing following the more detailed investigations into the scope for market-testing which are now under way.

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