§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of each of his Department's executive agencies; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.
Mr. JacksonThe Employment Department has only one executive agency which is the Employment Service. The chief executive of the Employment Service did not attend a university or polytechnic and therefore does not hold any degrees.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the quality of service256W performance indicators adopted by each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment and separately identify those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status.
Mr. JacksonThe Department has only one executive agency. The Employment Service has several quality of service performance indicators. They are to pay benefits promptly; to pay benefits accurately; and to contact everyone unemployed over six months and offer them an advisory interview at six-monthly intervals. The Employment Service also measures the level of overall customer satisfaction through an annual survey. In addition, each local office has targets for waiting times and how quickly the telephone is answered. The speed of payment indicator was in use before the agency was set up.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list those new facilities for staff, including nurseries and health care schemes, which have been introduced in each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment;
- (2) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment and provide a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern for each agency;
- (3) how many staff were in post on the date that each of his Department's executive agencies were established; and how many are in post now, in each case;
- (4) if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related elements, in each case where appointments have been made to his Department's executive agencies at grade 7 or above, since their establishment;
- (5) if he will list each of his Department's executive agencies that operates a group bonus scheme and state the cash amount per person awarded in the last year for which figures are available, and the conditions attached to its award.
Mr. JacksonThe Employment Department has only one executive agency which is the Employment Service. Questions on operational matters in the Employment 257W Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of each of his Department's executive agencies, including the performance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract in each case.
Mr. JacksonThe Department has one executive agency, the Employment Service. The chief executive's remuneration for 1991–92 is £59,000. In addition he can receive a performance bonus of up to 10 per cent. The chief executive's contract extends for two and a half years from 1 April 1990, when the agency was established.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the last annual report for each of his Department's executive agencies was published; and when the next one is due.
Mr. JacksonThe last Employment Service annual report was published on 24 July 1991. The next one is due to be published in July 1992.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much was spent on events and publicity
258W
Receiving allowances on Count Date Region Starts in month Male Female Total Count Date 10 October East Midland 15 15 0 15 West Midlands 19 17 2 19 Wales 2 2 0 2 London and South East 18 17 0 17 South West 5 4 1 5 Northern 21 19 2 210 Yorkshire and Humber 83 66 17 83 Scotland 2 2 0 2 North West 46 43 3 46 Total 211 185 25 210 Count Date 14 November East Midlands 226 194 34 228 West Midlands 197 190 12 202 Wales 308 284 12 296 London and South East 263 228 49 277 South West 164 142 19 161 Northern 233 206 37 243 Yorkshire and Humber 351 346 68 414 Scotland 69 56 10 66 North West 412 378 59 437 Total 2,223 2,024 300 2,324 Count Date 12 December East Midlands 326 458 70 528 West Midlands 257 377 52 429 Wales 266 502 22 524 London and South East 380 493 133 626 South West 203 293 44 337 Northern 289 427 76 503 Yorkshire and Humber 352 599 111 710 Scotland 213 236 27 263 North West 410 696 94 790 Total 2,696 4,081 629 4,710 surrounding the launch of each of his Department's executive agencies; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.
Mr. JacksonThe Employment Department's one executive agency, the Employment Service, was launched in April 1990 at a press briefing held at the Department's offices. The materials produced for the briefing cost £8,109 and were paid for by the Department. In addition the Employment Service published "A Guide to the Employment Service for MPs" which cost £1,086.