CONFIDENTIAL
As regards Labour Inspectors, a Senior Labour-Officer who will be in London in May will explore the possibility of setting up a special training course in the U.K. with the Employment Adviser of the Overseas Levelopment Administration. Funds will have to be voted when a scheme is worked out.
For Factory Inspectors, provision has been included in the 1978/79 Draft Estimates for one Divisional Factory Inspector to attend a construction safety course in the U.K. for 13 weeks and for one Factory Inspector to undergo a 6-month Diploma Course at Aston University. It would be useful if Mr. Hurst could assist in arranging
special attachments of about 3 months' duration
to the headquërters and regional offices of the
U.K. Health and Safety Executive for our
Superintendents of Factory Inspectors.
(): The expansion of the Labour Tribunal is Supported (para. 21 of the Report)
Policy support for the creation of staff
to man a fourth court within the Labour Tribunal
was given early in March. The additional posts will shortly be circulated to the Establishment Sub-Committee for approval.
(h): In respect of "Staff Relations in the Civil Service" priority should be given to revaluating the role and functions of Departmental Consultative Councils (para. 26). The establishment of independent arbitration procedures and separate consultative/negotiating procedures for Junior" civil servants and lodel scale 1 employees should also be considered (paras. 26 - 29 of the Report
The Civil Service Branch agree that there is a need to examine, and possibly revise, the arrangements for consultation with staff on service- wide issues. However, as Fr. Hurst has noted in
his Report, recommendations for improvements are expected from Professor Turner and it would be
premature to commit ourselves to a course of action
CONFIDENTIAL