HL Deb 22 May 1996 vol 572 cc100-2WA
Lord Selsdon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have in regard to the privatisation of Recruitment and Assessment Services, further to the Lord Privy Seal's comment to the House on 8th March 1996.

Viscount Cranborne

Noble Lords will wish to be aware that today in another place a debate took place on a Government Motion as follows:

That this House welcomes the Government's policies on the Civil Service, as set out in the White Papers Continuity and Change and Taking Forward Continuity and Change, including the promulgation of the Civil Service Code from 1st January 1996, the establishment of the Senior Civil Service from 1st April 1996 and the strengthening of the role of the Civil Service Commissioners in maintaining the principles of fair and open competition and selection on merit in recruitment; also welcomes the Government's policy with regard to the privatisation of Recruitment and Assessment Services, with the proposed safeguards to protect the quality of Civil Service recruitment; and looks forward to the intended publication in July of a White Paper on training and development in the Civil Service, associated with the further development by the Civil Service College of a number of partnerships with the private sector which will enhance its status in the provision of courses for those working in the public and private sector.

During that debate my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told that House that it is the Government's intention to issue the information memorandum to pre-qualified bidders for RAS shortly. A copy of the letter inviting bids and the information memorandum (edited to omit commercially sensitive and personal information) will be placed in the Library. My right honourable friend also stated that he looked forward to attending this House's Public Service Select Committee and to receiving the committee's report. The report's recommendations will be considered with care and we will respond to it in due course. Meanwhile, we are adhering to the privatisation timetable, which aims for a successful completion of the privatisation process by the end of the summer. However, this timetable allows for the Government to study the Select Committee's report, assuming that it reports as promised before the summer Recess, and will enable it to make a response before the House rises for the summer.