§ Ian LucasTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will direct the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus to consent to referring the current dispute with the Public and Commercial Services Union to ACAS for arbitration. [33531]
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the PCS Union has agreed to refer the dispute over safety at work in the Benefits Agency and jobcentres to arbitration; and what the view is of Her Majesty"s Government on this process. [32872]
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the recent dispute between the Public and Commercial Services Union and the Benefits Agency over screening in benefits offices will be referred to ACAS; and if he will make a statement. [32763]
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§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason in the course of the industrial dispute over safety in Jobcentre Plus the involvement of ACAS has been specifically excluded as a means to bring this dispute to a resolution. [40503]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answers 5 and 6 February 2002]: While conciliation and arbitration can be of value, it would not be appropriate in this instance to refer the current dispute to ACAS as the Public and Commercial Services Union has proposed. The fundamental principles underpinning the delivery of Jobcentre Plus are at the heart of the welfare modernisation and customer service improvement to which the Government are committed. They are not ones about which it is appropriate to seek arbitration.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will list the(a) subject matter, (b) dates and (c) times of (i) discussions, (ii) telephone conversations and (iii) meetings, (A) he and (B) the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus has had between 1 January and 28 February with (1) Mark Serwtoka, (2) Barry Reamsbottom, (3) Alan Churchyard and (4) Eddie Spence; [40500]
(2) if he will list the (a) subject matter, (b) individuals involved, (c) dates and (d) times of (i) discussions, (ii) telephone conversations and (iii) meetings he has had with the TUC in connection with the current trade dispute between his Department and the PCS Union; [40501]
(3) if he will list the dates and times of discussions,telephone conversations and meetings (a) he,(b) the Chief Executive (c) Kevin White and(d) other senior managers in his Department have had with the PCS Union with regard to the Jobcentre Plus industrial dispute over safety; and which PCS Union senior officials those meetings and conversations were held with, between 4 September 2001 and 1 March 2002; [40502]
(4) what the overall cost arising from industrial dispute over safety in Jobcentre Plus is; and what expenditure has resulted. [40504]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownManagers have had over 60 hours of discussions with PCS. There have been numerous other contacts and approaches but we have been asked to treat these as confidential.
We estimate that around £5.5 million has been saved in staff salaries since September.