redundancy whilst on maternity leave

I am currently on maternity leave, due to return to work in February 2011.

The company I work for has announced the need to make redundancies, and initially asked for volunteers to come forward for voluntary redundancy. I received notification of this by email and did not volunteer.

I heard nothing else in relation to this until I had a casual conversation with a colleague this week. She informed me that further redundancies are to be made. I currently work in a team of 13, all doing identical jobs. My colleague said that a further three positions are to be cut, and that all of my colleagues have been invited to re apply for their jobs. They have also been invited to apply for new positions which have been created in other teams, and have been given a deadline for doing so. This deadline has passed and interviews have been scheduled. I have not been notified of any of this, and have just found out by chance.

What does this mean? Am I protected from this process because I am away from work? Does this mean that i am safe? Or could the organisation have just been incompetent in not informing me? And is it reasonable to expect me to prepare for and attend one or more interviews whilst on leave?

Thank you.

thesoo just so you know I've replied to your thread asking this question elsewhere.