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DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the benefits of privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services, agency. [8328]
Mr. Willetts: Privatisation offers the best way to develop the potential of RAS. Freed from public sector constraints, it will be able to compete for business in wider markets, both public and private, offer new opportunities for investment and allow for the introduction of more flexible use of staff resources. Customer departments will benefit from the opportunities for improving performance that privatisation will bring. In reaching these conclusions, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster received advice from financial advisers and customer departments.
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Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department will retain ownership of the tests carried out by the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency if it is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [8436]
Mr. Willetts: The Government will retain ownership of the tests.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if all the functions of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency are to be sold on its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8493]
Mr. Willetts: Yes. The services provided by the agency will transfer to the private sector.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the length of the term of contract to the successful bidder of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency if it is privatised; and if he will make a statement. [8434]
Mr. Willetts: This will be decided during the sale process in the light of customers' views and advice from financial and legal advisers.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what value he has set on the skill of Recruitment and Assessment Services agency staff for the purposes of privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8475]
Mr. Willetts: The skills of RAS staff are vital to its business. The valuation placed on the business will recognise this.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the staff of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency were consulted in advance prior to the announcement of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8435]
Mr. Willetts: No. The decision to privatise the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency reflected the view reached by Ministers that privatisation was the best way to secure the long-term interests of the staff and customers, as well as those of the taxpayer.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what factors led him to set the time scale for privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency; and if he will make a statement. [8527]
Mr. Willetts: To keep the period of uncertainty for RAS staff and customers to a minimum.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what public consultation process has been arranged in respect of privatising the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency; and if he will make a statement; [8327]
- (2) what length of notice customers' organisations of the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency were given regarding its intended privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [8437]
Mr. Willetts: Major customers were consulted before the decision to privatise. The consultation provided adequate time for them to express views. There will be continuing close consultation with customers during the privatisation process. The principle of selection on merit
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by fair and open competition, to which the Government are committed, is not affected by the proposed privatisation.
Royal Family (Publicity Service Costs)
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the 1994-95 costs to the Central Office of Information for publicity services to the royal family. [8904]
Mr. Willetts: The COI is responsible for organising television, radio and newspaper attendance at visits by senior members of the royal family while carrying out
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their official duties outside London. Some 419 venues were visited in 1994-95. The COI provides appropriate briefing material for such visits and also provides a media summary service for the Queen when on official engagements overseas.