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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the principal private public partnerships officer with the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) met the Chief Executive of the SEELB over the past year to brief him on the development of negotiations in relation to the private public partnership scheme involving Comber High School and Bangor Academy; what matters were discussed on each occasion; and for what reasons the Chief Executive of the SEELB did not inform staff in March that jobs would be transferred from the Board to the preferred bidder in January 2006. [174009] Mr. Gardiner: I have been informed that the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board met with the Head of the PPP Education Service/ Project Manager for the Bangor and Comber Project on 35 occasions since 17 May 2003 to brief him on the Bangor and Comber Project. All aspects of the project were discussed including those relating to legal, financial, technical, facilities management, staffing and consortia/bids. On 26 March 2002, meetings were held with caretaking, cleaning and catering staff in both Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School. Staff were informed that transfers were likely. School based staff were kept informed throughout the process through their line managers; line managers were kept informed through monthly briefing meetings chaired by a senior officer of the SEELB. On 15 January, 2004 meetings were held in both Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School. Staff were informed that transfers were likely. On 4 February, 2004 meetings were held in both Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School to allow staff to meet representatives of Jarvis. The caretakers of both schools attended; other staff did not. On 9 March 2004 the SEELB issued a letter to the catering, cleaning and caretaking staff in Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School informing them of Jarvis proposals and of the intent to establish a series of union meetings and the date of the first meeting. Trade unions were kept informed throughout the process and were furnished with documentation and opportunity to discuss staffing issues with the shortlisted bidders. This is in line with the Information and Communication memorandum as agreed by the trade unions, the five education and library boards and CCMS through the PPP Service Information and Communication Forum.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

174009; 422 c352-4W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Contracts Northern Ireland Meetings Public private partnerships Schools Visits South Eastern Education and Library Board Comber School

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk