§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on staff and union consultation during the process of re-engineering within the Patent Office. [35899]
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§ Mr. Ian TaylorPatent Office management regard consultation of the staff concerned as an essential step in winning commitment to specific proposals for re-engineering. Staff are therefore consulted before any proposals are implemented. The Patent Office management is always ready to meet the trade union side to discuss matters of interest or concern under the Whitley procedures.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the areas within the Patent Office that are under consideration for re-engineering indicating the number of staff, time scale and names of the departments involved; and if he will make a statement. [35897]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe Patent Office keeps its structure and organisation under continuing scrutiny for possible improvements to operational efficiency. In particular, it has under review certain "front end" administrative processes which are similar in nature but separately handled in the trade marks directorate and the patents and designs directorate. This exercise is still in its early stages and no detailed time scale or staffing proposals have yet been adopted. About 75 posts are covered. No compulsory redundancies are foreseen.