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Written Answers
Tuesday, 27 January 2004.
Special European Union Programmes Body: Resignation of Chief Executive
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the total cost of the package awarded to the chief executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body on his resignation, including ex gratia payments, pension contributions, car provision and advance salary payments.[HL456]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The chief executive of the Special EU Programmes Body resigned with effect from Wednesday 10 December 2003. On his resignation he was, in addition to his earnings to that date, entitled to seven weeks' pay in lieu of notice equivalent to £12,569 (which includes compensation for loss of pension). He also received a one-off ex-gratia payment of £20,000, and solicitors' costs of £2,500. The SEUPB terminated its leasing arrangements for Mr McKinney's car with the lessor with effect from 6 pm on Tuesday 9 December 2003.
In terms of pension payments, Mr McKinney is entitled to payments equivalent to what is payable under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) pending the introduction of the North/South scheme. Mr McKinney's entitlements are based mainly on his previous employment in the local government sector in Northern Ireland, plus amounts in respect of his employment with the SEUPB. The amounts payable to him are a lump sum of £84,824 and an annual pension payment of £28,275. These amounts are based on his final salary in SEUPB, pension benefits of 26 years 306 days which he had accrued in respect of his previous employment in local government and which will be transferred to the North/South scheme when it comes into effect; and two years 312 days reckonable service in the SEUPB. These payments will be made by the SEUPB until the North/South pension scheme commences, after which the North/South scheme will reimburse the SEUPB for any payments made and assume responsibility for all future payments.
Northern Ireland: Voting Patterns
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the projections for the numbers of Members of Parliament elected to each part in Northern Ireland at the next general election if the votes are cast in the same way as the first preference votes at the Assembly elections in November 2003.[HL634]
Baroness Amos: It is not government policy to speculate on future election results.
North/South Implementation Bodies: Funding
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 8 September 2003 (WA 5), concerning the proportionality of the budget of the Language Implementation Body, what information was taken into consideration which allowed no change to be made to the proportionality of the 2003 budget; who supplied the information and when.[HL652]
Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to my answers of 17 November (WA 235) and 15 December 2003. (WA 91).
Northern Ireland Civil Service: Pay
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the rate of the most recent pay increase per grade in the Northern Ireland Civil Service; what percentage difference the increase represents over the previous settlement; and, if there are differentials in the increase by grades, why.[HL653]
Baroness Amos: There are three separate groups for pay purposes within the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration: non-industrial staff up to and including Grade 6, the Senior Civil Service (SCS) and industrial staff.
For non-industrial staff up to and including Grade 6 the 2003 pay award was worth 3.67 per cent overall. The amount received by an individual depends on his or her current position on the pay scale, but the majority of individuals are receiving increases of between 2 per cent and 6 per cent. For these grades pay negotiations are carried out between the Department of Finance and Personnel, on behalf of all 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration, and the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA). The 2002 pay increase for grades up to and including Grade 6 was worth 5.5 per cent overall and was therefore 1.83 per cent more than the 2003 increase.
The 2003 increase for the SCS was worth 5.37 per cent. The amount received by an individual depended on performance ranking and position in the payband. A separate pay system exists for the SCS with increases made on the basis of recommendations made by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. Unlike the other staff groups the SCS pay award process does not involve negotiations with trade unions. The 2002 pay increase for the SCS was worth 4.38 per cent and was therefore 0.99 per cent less than the 2003 increase.
For industrial staff, departments have responsibility for carrying out their own pay negotiations and these have yet to be concluded for the 2003 pay round.
Statutes: Consolidated Versions
Lord Lucas asked the Leader of the House:
- Whether she will ensure that government departments make available in the Printed Paper Office consolidated current statutes when such statutes are subject to extensive amendment by a Bill, as is the case with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.[HL800]
Baroness Amos: On first printing of an Act 10 copies are delivered to the Printed Paper Office for supply to Members on request. The Printed Paper Office can of course obtain further copies when required. It holds copies of Acts back to 1951.
It is good practice for departments with a Bill going through the House to make available to Members in all the usual ways papers necessary to understand the Bill. This might well include related legislation. My office will contact all departments to remind them of this.
The Government are committed to delivering a fully revised and updated statute book to users and hopes that the statute law database will be completed and made available to the public by the end of 2004.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: Investment in South-Eastern Europe
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What investments in south-east Europe have been approved by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and whether they will give the totals for future investment in each country, with examples of specific major projects.[HL917]
Baroness Amos: In 2002, the last year for which full figures are available, the EBRD invested 1.2 billion euros in 36 projects in south-eastern Europe. This brought the bank's cumulative investment in the region to 5.1 billion euros in 210 projects. These projects included support for privatisation, restructuring, small and medium-sized enterprises, and critical infrastructure projects such as road building. Details of all projects on a country by country basis are available on the bank's website at www.ebrd.com. The full 2003 figures will be available later this year.
In the future, the bank aims to expand investment in the region and to continue its leading role under the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe in implementing private sector initiatives and in developing regional co-operation in infrastructure. Given that the EBRD's business is largely in the private sector and is therefore demand-driven, it is not possible to provide firm figures for future spend. However, the EBRD's individual country strategies for south-eastern Europe state the main areas of focus for the bank, and the majority of the strategies give an indication of the size of the project pipeline at the time
of strategy approval (country strategies are available on EBRD's website). The bank also publishes project summary documents with information on upcoming projects on its website, for example a regional road development programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Supreme Court
Lord Kingsland asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What consideration has been given to the security implications of creating a Supreme Court housed separately from Parliament; and what is the current estimate of the costs of installing appropriate security in an existing building and the revenue costs of maintaining security for any Supreme Court building. [HL764]
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The cost of installing and maintaining security systems within the Supreme Court can only be established once the Supreme Court building has been selected.
As part of the consideration being given to the security requirements of the Supreme Court, DCA officials have met with the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and the chief superintendent responsible for policing Parliament.
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many sites the Lord Chancellor or the Department for Constitutional Affairs have discussed with the Lord Chief Justice or the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary or any representative of the senior judiciary as potential sites for a Supreme Court; and whether they will list those sites. [HL840]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Eight building options have been discussed with representatives of the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. An evaluation is currently being conducted to identify the preferred building option. Until this process has been completed, it could be prejudicial to our commercial position to disclose details.
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