asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will make a statement on the recruitment of the 1,000 school leavers to the Civil Service; and if he will give details of their proposed terms of employment.
Written Answers. - Civil Service Recruitment.
43.
The main terms of employment of the new temporary clerical trainees are set out in paragraph 7.7 of the White Paper, Serving the Country Better. Further details are set out in the formal conditions of service which apply to them. These conditions are set out hereunder. Selection of trainees is being conducted by the Civil Service Commission. About 6,000 young people applied for 950 traineeships. Testing of applicants was completed on 8 November 1985 and the first trainees commenced training on 11 November 1985. I expect that all trainees will have commenced training by the end of the year. I have reserved 50 traineeships for disabled persons. A special competition to select such persons was advertised by the Commission on 30 October 1985.
Temporary Clerical Trainee in the Civil Service.
Conditions of Service.
1. An allowance of £60 per week will be paid.
2. The training period, which is strictly temporary, will last for a period of one year but may be terminated at any time by either side.
3. In the event of misconduct the assignment may be terminated at any time in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973.
4. A trainee's headquarters will be such as may be designated from time to time by the head of the Department.
5. A trainee will be required to undertake such work as may be assigned from time to time.
6. Subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave, the leave allowance will be 15 days a year, exclusive of the usual public holidays.
7. Hours of attendance are as fixed from time to time. At present they amount to 41 hours a week.
8. Payment of the allowance during illness may be allowed as follows during the 12 months training period:
after three months training — full payment up to four weeks.
The amount of any benefits payable under the Social Welfare Acts is deducted from the payments during illness.
9. The assignment is whole time and the trainee may not be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official work.
10. The assignment will not be pensionable, but having regard to performance during the training period, a number of trainees will be afforded an opportunity to compete for permanent and pensionable positions in the Civil Service. However these arrangements do not imply any entitlement or claim to established status on completion of the training period.