HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 cc65-6W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the total annual salary costs of the staff of the Insolvency Service of grades B and above, both in absolute terms, and as a percentage of the total wage bill of the Insolvency Service. [32325]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

Some £3.1 million was incurred in 1994–95 on the salary costs of Insolvency Service staff of grades B and above. This amount represents approximately 8 per cent. of the total pay costs of the Insolvency Service for 1994–95.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many man days were lost in the Insolvency Service due to sick absence for each year since 1986. [32308]

Mr. Evans

Details of the number of man-days lost to the Insolvency Service due to sick absence is available only for the years since 1991. The details are as follows:

Year Days
1991 17,270
1992 18,168
1993 23,082
1994 21,324

Prior to March 1990, when the Insolvency Service became an executive agency, details of sick absences were combined with those of the Department.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current policy of the Insolvency Service regarding the circumstances under which staff are required to transfer involuntarily between official receivers'offices. [32311]

Mr. Evans

The Insolvency Service endeavours to fill vacancies in its offices by transferring staff on a voluntary basis. If, exceptionally, mobile staff are transferred compulsorily the costs directly associated with such a transfer are paid within agreed limits.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures and provisions are in place to enable staff to relocate voluntarily or involuntarily between official receivers' offices; and what changes are planned to these procedures in the event of the contracting out of some of the functions of the official receiver. [32310]

Mr. Evans

The Insolvency Service endeavours to fill vacancies in official receivers' offices on a voluntary basis. Staff may apply for transfer to another office at any time and such requests will be considered on their merits. They will normally be agreed subject to the existence of a suitable vacancy. Where a transfer is a compulsory one or where a voluntary transfer involving relocation is in the service's interest the costs directly associated with the relocation are reimbursed within agreed limits.

No changes are planned to these procedures.