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Royal Observatories
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to issue the invitation to tender for the royal observatories; and if he will make a statement.[6119]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 26 November 1996]: I have been informed that the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council is unable to proceed at present with tendering of the programme of the royal observatories.
A series of difficulties which have significant financial and legal implications remain to be resolved before PPARC can issue invitations to tender, some of which only emerged during the detailed analysis required to prepare the tender documents. PPARC is determined to resolve these difficulties as soon as possible, but their resolution will realistically take several months.
Given the length of this delay, it will not be possible to adhere to the advertised time scale for the award and commencement of contracts. Consequently, the current tendering exercise has been formally terminated. Organisations which were shortlisted to bid against the invitations to tender have been informed. Tendering will proceed once the difficulties have been resolved and the cost and benefits re-assessed. Meanwhile, the work of the royal observatories will continue on the present basis.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking in respect of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's investigation of the take-over of A1 Service by Stagecoach Holdings plc. [6487]
Mr. John M. Taylor
[holding answer 28 November 1996]: As I explained in my letter of 26 September 1996 to the hon. Member, the Office of Fair Trading is currently seeking from Stagecoach Holdings plc the undertakings which they were asked to give following the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the acquisition by Stagecoach of A1 Service in November 1995. The hon. Member is aware that the obtaining of undertakings from Stagecoach was delayed because of judicial review proceedings initiated by the company, which were concluded in June 1996 when the Court of Session in Edinburgh dismissed Stagecoach's petition.
29 Nov 1996 : Column: 428
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of those employed by his Department in 1992-93 were women. [6469]
Mr. John M. Taylor
[holding answer 28 November 1996]: On 1 april 1992, the Department employed 5,592 female staff, which was 45 per cent. of the total number of staff and on 1 April 1993 employed 5,700 female staff, which was 44 per cent. of the total staff. During 1992, the Department of Energy joined the DTI and the figure for 1992 therefore excludes former Department of Energy staff.
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many women are currently employed by his Department at each civil service grade. [6449]
Mr. Taylor:
[holding answer 28 November 1996]: The figures for female staff in the Department by grade level, on a headcount basis, are as set out:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Senior Civil Service | 32 |
| Grade 6--level | 28 |
| Grade 7--level | 149 |
| SEO--level | 82 |
| HEO--level | 301 |
| EO--level | 491 |
| AO--level | 896 |
| AA--level | 396 |
Child Care Facilities
Mrs. Roche: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what child care facilities his Department provides for its employees; what facilities were provided in 1992; and how many employees have used child care facilities in each year since 1992. [6450]
Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 28 November 1996]: The Department operates a holiday play scheme in central London offering up to 32 places on any one day for at least 11 weeks of the year during school holidays. In addition, DTI staff in Government Offices may make use of local holiday play schemes. The Department's staff have had access to a holiday play scheme in central London since 1990. The following figures show the number of staff whose children used the DTI play schemes during 1993, 1994 and 1995. Figures for 1992 are not available.
29 Nov 1996 : Column: 429
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of staff using the scheme | 74 | 142 | 205 |
Departmental Decisions (Appeals)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those administrative decisions of his Department affecting (a) United Kingdom citizens and (b) non-citizens where there is no right of appeal. [6035]
Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 25 November 1996]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Nursery Vouchers
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means, when and at what cost, he intends to promote vouchers for pre-school children.[5864]
Mr. Ancram: Details of expenditure plans will shortly be finalised. I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 14 November, Official Report, column 355, for what reasons the administration costs of the pre-school voucher scheme do not have additional start-up costs in the first year. [6090]
Mr. Ancram: The cost of administering the nursery voucher scheme, including start up costs have been estimated on the basis of the three-year period of the initial contract and a detailed breakdown is not available. The answer of 14 November spread the total estimated cost for Northern Ireland of £300,000 evenly over the three years.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 14 November, Official Report, column 355, if he will negotiate to ensure that, in the contract with Capita over the pre-school voucher scheme, that there will be no costs falling on an incoming administration should the voucher scheme not go ahead. [6091]
Mr. Ancram: The national contract with Capita does not cover Northern Ireland but contains an opt-in clause permitting coverage to be extended to the Province when the necessary legislation is in place. In line with commercial practice, the contract for the national scheme contains provision for the payment of costs related to early termination of the contract. Further details are available in the contract, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Education Administration
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 14 November, Official Report, column 355, if he will itemise the administration tasks that have to be completed by Capita for £9.17, as the estimated cost of administration per full-time equivalent pupil. [6092]
29 Nov 1996 : Column: 430
Mr. Ancram: The principal administrative tasks are:
Establishing and equipping a voucher centre office;
Issue of an initial letter and application forms to parents;
Production, issue, receipt and processing of vouchers; and
Provision of a telephone helpline.
Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what savings have been made by the Eastern health and social services board in respect of purchases from the North and West Belfast HSS trust since 5 April. [6577]
Mr. Moss: The 1995 public expenditure survey settlement included a requirement from the Department of Finance and Personnel to the health service in Northern Ireland to find 3 per cent. cash efficiency savings. However, after discussions with boards and trusts, I concluded that this would not be possible. Accordingly, instead of being prescriptive, I agreed to guidelines of 1.5 per cent. efficiency savings and 1.5 per cent. cuts in services. In seeking to achieve the necessary savings, I understand that the board negotiated with North and West Belfast HSS trust a contract for 1996-97 which proposed a service reduction equating 1.3 per cent.--£0.831 million--a total saving of 2.93 per cent.-- £1.528 million.
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what savings the Eastern health and social services board is expected to make in respect of purchases from the North and West Belfast HSS trust in the current financial year. [6578]
Mr. Moss: I understand that the board, in accordance with the guidelines that service reductions should focus on low priority acute elective activity, agreed a contract with North and West Belfast HSS trust which will realise the following savings: cost improvement of 1.56 per cent.--£0.831 million--and in-year service reductions on 0.66 per cent.--£0.331 million.
Dr. Hendron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the savings to be made by the Eastern health and social services board in respect of purchases from the North and West Belfast HSS trust will affect residential homes and their staff. [6579]
Mr. Moss: I understand that the savings realised from the North and West Belfast HSS Trust for 1996-97 have had no implications for the provision of its statutory residential care homes. The contract signed with the trust has no detrimental effect on its existing levels of statutory residential care. The trust has made no approach to the board about any proposals to reduce statutory residential provision in 1996-97.
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