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DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Civil Service Code
Mr. Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made towards introduction of the proposed civil service code. [2469]
Mr. Freeman: Her Majesty in Council today approved an order extending the functions of the Civil Service Commissioners, empowering them to hear appeals under a civil service code, and to make reports on them.
I shall place a copy of the order in the Libraries of the House as soon as it is available.
Commissioner for Public Appointments
Mr. Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made towards the implementation of the Nolan committee's recommendation that a Commissioner for Public Appointments should be appointed. [2470]
Mr. Freeman: Her Majesty in Council today approved orders setting up the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and appointing the first office holder.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today announced the appointment of Sir Leonard Peach, currently chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, as the first Commissioner for Public Appointments. Sir Leonard will take up this part-time appointment on 18 December 1995.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has also appointed Sir Leonard Peach as the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland.
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Sir Leonard has also been appointed a Civil Service Commissioner.
I shall arrange for copies of the relevant orders to be placed in the Libraries of the House as soon as they are available.
Mr. Butler:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his plans are for the future of the Central Office of Information. [2767]
Mr. Freeman:
I am satisfied that the Central Office of Information should continue as a next steps agency. I have asked the chief executive to make proposals for improving the efficiency of the agency, with the aim of maximising the value that it adds to the procurement of publicity by Government. The outcome should be to streamline COI so as to concentrate on the procurement of services for customer departments, rather than the direct provision of services. The proposals, which will draw on assistance from consultants, will take full account of the views of customer departments and the availability of alternative means of obtaining the services provided by COI. As a first stage, I have decided that from 1 January 1996 the presumption that departments should use COI for advertisement procurement should cease, and departments will be free to make alternative arrangements direct with the industry if they so wish.
I recognise that these changes will result in some reduction in the number of staff employed by COI, which is currently about 470, but I am convinced that a more sharply focused COI will be better able to provide a service to departments which will both meet the needs of Government Departments and secure the best interests of the taxpayer.
Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Government completed their exploration of how to increase private sector involvement in the Occupational Health and Safety Agency and Recruitment and Assessment Services; and if he will make a statement. [2795]
Mr. Horam:
After further consideration in the light of advice from Coopers and Lybrand, the Government have decided to transfer to the private sector both the Occupational Health and Safety Agency and Recruitment and Assessment Services as single viable businesses and in a way that will ensure that they retain their reputation for the provision of high-quality occupational health services and recruitments services respectively. The sale of RAS will include a contract for the fast-stream selection process for future civil servants, specifying the services required. The civil service will retain control over its recruitment.
These agencies have developed well in the last few years, but they are subject to various constraints from having to operate within Government. Privatisation of
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OHSA and RAS is the best way to secure the long-term interests of the staff and customers of these two businesses, as well as the taxpayer. Once they are freed from these constraints they will be better able to improve their services to existing customers, and to extend their businesses by making their services available to new customers in wider markets.
Formal expressions of interest for these businesses will be sought early in the new year. Financial advisers are being appointed.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what financial provision has been made for the construction of nursery facilities in the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement. [1021]
Mr. Beith:
No financial provision has been made for the construction of nursery facilities in the Palace of Westminster. The Commission has from time to time examined the possibilities of establishing an in-House child care facility. However, the Commission has been advised by the Accommodation and Works Committee that the main obstacle is the lack of unallocated accommodation on the Parliamentary estate which is suitable or could be made suitable to comply with the provisions of the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948 (as amended 1968).
Mr. David Shaw:
To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make financial provision for hon. Members to be provided with modern telephone and information services to the level of that available to directors and senior managers in leading British and international corporations. [175]
Mr. Beith:
The infrastructure for Members' telephone and information services is provided by the House and Members can augment this by means of the office costs allowance. If the hon. Member has a specific suggestion, he should inform the Chairman of the Administration Committee or the Chairman of the Information Committee.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce new standards under part M of the building regulations, relating to access for people with disabilities. [316]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
Over 1,000 responses have been received to the consultation paper on possible changes to part M of the building regulations issued earlier this year. These are being analysed. The Building Regulations
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Advisory Committee will consider this analysis in due course and will make recommendations to Ministers on the way forward.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he holds meetings with ministerial colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry with the specific intention of promoting the growth of the environmental industry. [1167]
Mr. Clappison:
The Secretary of State and the President of the Board of Trade established the joint environmental markets unit following a meeting they held with the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. This DTI-DOE unit assists and encourages United Kingdom firms to exploit growing markets for environmental goods and services, on an on-going basis, and Ministers discuss the issues that arise as a result of the unit's work as and when required.
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he has met his European counterparts to discuss the environmental technology industry across Europe in the last 12 months. [1155]
Mr. Clappison:
My right hon. Friend has frequent meetings with his European counterparts to discuss a wide range of measures to improve environmental standards. The improvement of such standards will tend to create market opportunities for suppliers of environmental technology and services. Among the many matters discussed at Environment Councils attended by my right hon. Friend in the past 12 months has been the proposed amendment of the LIFE regulation, part of which the aim is to provide financial support for projects demonstrating an innovative use of environmental technology.
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the level of tax revenue the environmental technology industry has contributed to the Treasury in the past five years. [1166]
Mr. Clappison:
My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what formal arrangements exist to assist co-operation between his Department and the Department for Education and Employment in relation to the environment technology industry. [1156]
Mr. Clappison:
There are no such arrangements specifically related to the environmental technology industry. However, there is close co-operation between the Departments on improvement of the environmental content of education at all levels from primary school to university, and on development of environmental national vocational qualifications. This will promote greater environmental awareness among today's and tomorrow's industrial management and work force, and so in turn improve the climate for the environmental supply industry.
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