HC Deb 13 February 2001 vol 363 cc128-9W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will issue guidance to staff working in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service about mobility and job security; and if she will make a statement. [149558]

Jane Kennedy

Guidance has already been issued. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act, employees transferring to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will do so on terms equivalent to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. They will retain their current terms and conditions including those relating to mobility and to job security.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department where the workforce for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will be accommodated after 1 April; and if she will make a statement. [149556]

Jane Kennedy

Nearly all staff transferring to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will be accommodated in the same locations as they are working in before 1 April. Those few who have to move offices will be accommodated as close as possible to their current location. Self-employed staff and others who work at home will continue to be able to do so.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the anticipated(a) workforce at each grade and (b) caseload per officer is for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service from 1 April; and if she will make a statement. [149554]

Jane Kennedy

Staff who presently deliver these services are expected to transfer to the Children and Family Court Advice and Support Service and caseloads on transfer are expected to be similar to present caseloads.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment has been made of potential discrepancies relating to pay for persons in the Probation Service and the new Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; and if she will make a statement. [149559]

Jane Kennedy

My officials have reviewed the different pay scales of staff who will transfer from the Probation Service, and other employers, into the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). It is clear that there are many variations between different groups of staff. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act, employees transferring to CAFCASS on 1 April will do so under terms equivalent to the Transfer of Undertakings and (Protection of Employment) Regulations. It will be a priority for CAFCASS to negotiate a harmonisation of terms and conditions.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will issue guarantees in relation to detriment and continuity of service for transferring employees; if it will be possible for members of staff to transfer back to the Probation Service at a future date; and if she will make a statement. [149557]

Jane Kennedy

Employees transferring to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) will keep their continuity of service. Staff will, of course, be free to apply for posts in the Probation Service in the future. I expect CAFCASS to act as a good employer in relation to conditions of service in the future.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what costs have been incurred to date in establishing the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; what is the planned budget for the next financial year; and if she will make a statement. [149553]

Jane Kennedy

The costs of establishing CAFCASS amount to a total of £11.6 million for start-up costs. These, together with the staffing costs, have been met from within the provision of the three sponsoring Departments: LCD, the Home Office and the Department of Health. The planned budget for next year is £72 million in running costs plus £9.1 million capital.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress in establishing the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; and on what date the service will be operational. [149552]

Jane Kennedy

The service will be established on Sunday 1 April 2001 and will be operational from Monday 2 April as planned. Staff and other main stakeholders are playing an invaluable role alongside my officials in shaping the unified service.

The chair, the board, and the chief executive of CAFCASS have been appointed. All the necessary transfer arrangements for children's cases, and for staff, accommodation, finance and IT, will be in place on 2 April.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received on trade union recognition for staff at the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; what response has been made to those representations; and if she will make a statement. [149555]

Jane Kennedy

Several representations have been received and the CAFCASS chairman-designate, Anthony Hewson OBE, announced on 12 February that the National Association of Probation Officers would be a recognised trade union within CAFCASS. Representations from other trade unions are being considered.