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Private Employment Agencies
Mr. Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16181]
Mr. Hague: Information is not kept in the form requested. The available information is as follows:
| 1994-95 £ | 1995-96 £ | 1996-97 (to date) £ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Services (UK) Ltd. | 11,406 | 65,090 | 67,163 |
| Kinetic Ltd. | 1,737 | 3,521 | 4,934 |
| Pertemps Recruitment Partnership | 892 | 18,338 | 1,203 |
| Adia (UK) Ltd. | -- | 15,817 | -- |
| Brook Street Bureau | -- | -- | 579 |
| Atebion Training | -- | -- | 551 |
| Employment Agency | -- | -- | -- |
| Total | 14,035 | 102,766 | 74,430 |
Environmental Audit (Departmental Buildings)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16424]
Mr. Hague: My Department has examined its waste management activity and, as a result, various initiatives are in place which are improving overall efficiency and reducing environmental effects.
In particular, the Welsh Office has a range of targets aimed at reducing the amount of waste it sends to landfill. Substantial quantities of waste paper, aluminium cans, toner cartridges, plastics, old wooden pallets and polythene packaging are being directed away from landfill.
In addition to the environmental benefits, these initiatives are bringing significant financial gains through the generation of revenue and reduction in waste disposal costs.
My Department is committed to doing more where possible in future. Welsh Office staff are regularly encouraged toward further improved performance including the minimisation of waste at source.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and
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(b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16284]
Mr. Hague:
My Department's property management regime provides for professional consultants to carry out regular inspections and assessments of Welsh Office buildings aimed at identifying all significant hazardous materials. Welsh Office property records highlight factors relating to our buildings which present a potential health and environmental hazard. From the information compiled, annual maintenance programmes are devised and implemented to ensure full compliance with statutory and health and safety obligations.
Specifically, asbestos registers are maintained for all Welsh Office property. Other significant health and environmental hazards covered by Welsh Office risk management arrangements include: legionella, water chlorination, radon and ozone-depleting substances.
Welsh Office policy on ozone-depleting substances is to reduce and ultimately eliminate their use in its buildings. My Department has replaced all halon fire extinguishers with ozone-friendly alternatives. It has also established an inventory of the remaining equipment which contain ozone-depleting chemicals. These substances are used mainly by the Welsh Office in the operation of the main refrigeration plant. All such systems are subject to stringent maintenance regimes intended to readily detect any abnormalities.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what data he has collected from national health service trusts in Wales on the pay rises which have been awarded to chief executives of trusts during this wage round (a) in percentage terms and (b) in money terms. [16768]
Mr. Hague:
None. Details will be included in annual reports, which will be placed in the Library. The amount of remuneration is a matter for each trust to determine. I will ask the chairman of the relevant trust to write to the hon. Member if he will provide details of individual cases of concern.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what data he has collated on the numbers employed in the NHS in Wales as agency nurses, and bank nurses on a whole-time equivalent basis. [16771]
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Mr. Hague:
Information on agency and bank nurses is not collected centrally. However, informal inquiries in 1995 suggested that the contribution made by such staff was around 500 whole-time equivalents.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16748]
Mr. Hague:
The use of external consultants by those non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department is subject to the same controls as apply to all their activities which are funded by public expenditure. These include operating within the parameters of management statements and financial memoranda agreed with the Treasury and the Department, audit scrutiny and a structured programme of corporate planning.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many student nurses have been accepted on courses under Project 2000 in each year since its commencement; how many student nurses have dropped out during their courses; and how many Project 2000 qualified nurses have not taken up employment as nurses in the national health service in Wales. [16769]
Mr. Hague:
The information is as follows. Information on numbers who have not taken up employment in the national health service in Wales is not collected centrally.
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | 100 | 927 | 786 | 656 | 725 | 788 |
| Leavers during course | 12 | 216 | 174 | 114 | 79 | 52 |
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Private Employment Agencies
Mr. Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16190]
Mr. Hanley:
The tables provide the information:
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