§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the schemes his Department operates to assist staff facing financial hardship following a transfer, showing(a) the particular criteria and rules applying to each one, including the circumstances under which any loans can be written off, (b) the total amount loaned or granted under the schemes in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94 and (c) the number of staff assisted in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94.
§ Mr. EggarThe Department has a number of discretionary arrangements, delegated from Her Majesty's Treasury, which it can use in cases where a staff transfer in the public interest would lead to proven financial hardship. These arrangements include interest-bearing and interest-free loans; in highly exceptional cases there is provision for write-off. The arrangements are administered bearing in mind the cost to the taxpayer.
To provide the details requested would entail disproportionate cost.