HUNDREDS of Fylde civil servants face job worries amid privatisation talks at the hi-tech Information Technology Services Agency.

ITSA, which runs the Department of Social Security's massive computer network, confirmed "outsourcing" its work to private companies is an option being considered by ministers.

ITSA's 1,400 Fylde staff, based at Blackpool's Peel Park and in St Annes, were informed about the possible public-private partnership in a briefing last week.

Favourite to take over would be the Affinity consortium, made up of international computer giants EDS and IBM, Cable and Wireless and accountants Price Waterhouse Cooper.

But David Wilkinson, regional officer for the Public and Commercial Services Union, was concerned. He said: "As a trade union we are against privatisation. We believe our staff are more than capable of delivering a modern, good quality information technology service for the Government.

"We can work in partnership with private industry if that's required, but I believe the private sector do not have the knowledgable staff to take on the role.

"They'd want to take over the staff with the expertise to take this forward - they just want to take it over lock, stock and barrel.

"There could be an impact on people's futures and they're understandably worried."

The union's warnings about the privatisation of the Passport Office went unheeded until massive delays built up, pointed out Mr Wilkinson, who is arranging talks with management and ministers.

ITSA spokeswoman Tracy Heyworth said that "outsourcing" of some IT services was not new - one section was privatised five years ago - but current Project Accord discussions centred on using private finance initiatives or private partnership to develop the full range of info-tech systems to underpin the modern welfare state.

Staff were being kept informed at every stage as the strategic discussions go on.

"The long-term future of the staff will be given the highest priority," she said.

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said: "I am concerned about the implications and I will be raising the issue with management."

The running of another huge Fylde civil service office, the Department of National Savings at Marton, was taken over by Siemens Business Services earlier this year, so far with little impact on staff.

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