HC Deb 15 March 1995 vol 256 cc571-3W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the will list those police authorities which have set up police domestic violence units; how duration for this year and each of the past five years, in each case specifying what percentage of the respective total workforce these employees constitute;

(2) how many people he expects to employ in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which he is responsible on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration in the next three years, in each case specifying the number of employees who had previously been employed in a similar position on the same contract;

(3) for the current year and each of the past five years, how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible who have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks, or (b) less than 51 weeks duration are re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date.

(4) what positions in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible are filled by employees who are employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration;

(5) what guidance has been issued in respect of the recruitment and appointment of non-permanent employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by his Department;

(6) if he will publish the full terms of employment as specified to employees in his Department and all executive agencies for which he is responsible who are employed on a temporary contract of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The Home Office and its agencies employ casual staff to meet short-term or seasonal needs. No central record is available of casual staff employed in recent years, or of the duration of their contracts. The number of casual staff currently employed is set out in the following table. Contracts normally set out the expected period of employment; none of the above staff have been engaged on contracts of 51 weeks.

The appointment and conditions of employment of casual staff are in accordance with the provisions of the civil service management code. It is not possible to anticipate the number of casual staff likely to he required in the next three years.

many units there are per police authority; and what is the location of the units.

Mr. Maclean

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The establishment of domestic violence units is an operational matter for the chief officers of police.