§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.
§ Sir John WheelerThe Department of Finance and Personnel had issued guidance to all Northern Ireland Departments and agencies in respect of the recruitment and appointment of non-permanent employees to the Northern Ireland civil service, covering entry requirements in relation to age, nationality, health, character, knowledge and ability; procedures for vetting; and the implementation of the policy of selection on merit in fair and open competition.
Recruitment to the home civil service in the Northern Ireland Office is subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Order in Council 1991, under which staff whose employment will not exceed 12 months, are exempt from selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. No specific guidance is produced for such appointments, subject to checks as appropriate in relation to age, education, nationality, health and character.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 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
§ Sir John WheelerEmployees on temporary contracts are not generally offered employment for a specific period but are retained for as long as required, which in most cases is for 51 weeks. The posts concerned are as follows:
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(a) 51 weeks (b) Less than 51 weeks NI Departments and the NI Office Casual Veterinary Officer 1Industrial Forest Worker Casual Assistant Accommodation Manager 1Industrial Farm Worker Casual Typist Sandwich Course Student Casual Brucella Tester Casual Administrative Assistant Vacation Student Casual Fisheries Officer II Casual Assistant Scientific Officer Support Grade 2 Casual Imports Inspector Casual Assistant Librarian Casual Food Technologist Telephonist Computer Programme Administrative Officer Casual Scientific Officer Grade IV Short Term Relief Environment Service Legal Assistant Agencies Administrative Assistant Administrative Officer Instructional Officer I Support Grade 2 Telephonist Security Guard 1(Contract for maximum of 12 weeks).
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.
§ Sir John WheelerThe information has been placed in the Library.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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)s less than 51 weeks' duration arc re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date.
§ Sir John WheelerThis information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.
§ Sir John WheelerThe Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, including agencies, employ staff on temporary contracts of up to 51 weeks in order to alleviate the difficulties caused by staff shortages through periods of maternity leave, special leave, long-term illness and special exercises which may arise periodically.
It is not therefore possible to estimate reliable figures of staff who will be employed on such temporary contracts in the next three years.