HC Deb 15 March 1995 vol 256 cc557-9W
Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by his Department have been employed on temporary contracts of(a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration for this year and each of the past five years, in each case specifying what percentage of the respective total work force these employees constitute.

Mr. Norris

The Department's personnel information system records the following number of temporary employees this year and in the last five years:

Department of Transport Of which: Agencies
Numbers Percentage Numbers Percentage
1 March 1995 595.0 4.3 527.5 4.7
1 April 1994 452.0 3.2 389.0 3.4
1 April 1993 379.5 2.6 191.5 2.2
1 April 1992 457.0 3.0 229.0 2.4
1 April 1991 591.5 3.7 235.0 2.5
1 April 1990 716.0 4.6 280.5 4.1

In addition, my Department employs some staff on a "call off" basis, for example to support short-term fluctuations in work load. My Department does not hold a central record which distinguishes between contracts of 51 weeks and less than 51 weeks.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for this 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.

Mr. Norris

The Department's personnel information system records the following number of temporary employees for this year and the last five years who have been re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date:

Department of Transport Of which: Agencies
1990–91 35 13
1991–92 21 7
1992–93 23 13
1993–94 29 21
1994–95 33 31

In addition, my Department employs some staff on a "call off" basis, for example to support short term fluctuations in work load. My Department does not hold a central record which distinguishes between contracts of 51 weeks and less than 51 weeks.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.

Mr. Norris

My Department employs staff on temporary contracts to meet its short-term needs and as such these needs arc difficult to forecast. However, the total number of staff in the Department will reduce over the next three years as a result of its efficiency plans and it is expected that the need for temporary staff will also reduce. Nor is it possible to forecast whether previous temporary contracts will be renewed.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.

Mr. Norris

I have today arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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.

Mr. Norris

The Department's personnel system records in the following table the number of post by grade in the Department as a whole and executive agencies specifically which are filled by employees on temporary contracts of less than one year according to the Department's personnel information systems as at I March 1995. The length of the contracts lasting less than one year is not normally agreed in advance and separate records are not kept showing the length of the contracts.

Grade title DOT Of which: agencies
Grade 7 3.0 0
Senior Executive Officer 0.5 0.5
Senior Professional and Technology Officer 2.0 2.0
Nautical Surveyor 1 1.0 0

Grade title DOT Of which: agencies
Higher Professional and Technology Officer 7.0 7.0
Nautical Surveyor 2 2.0 2.0
Higher Executive Officer 1.0 1.0
Professional and Technology Officer 2.5 2.5
Driving Examiner 26.0 26.0
Administrative Officer 121.5 99.5
Assistant Vehicle Examiner 0.5 0.5
Support Grade—Band 1 1.0 1.0
Administrative Assistant 385.5 346.5
Support Grade—Band 2 30.0 30.0
Support Grade—Band 2A 4.0 4.0
Typist 7.5 5.0
Total 595 527.5

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Norris

I have today arranged for the information requested to he placed in the Library of the House.