§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the line manager is for an authorised officer of the Parades Commission. [11934]
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§ Jane KennedyAuthorised officers are self employed individuals contracted to the Parades Commission. Co-ordination of the authorised officers is carried out at Deputy Principal level within the Secretariat.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many authorised officers have been remunerated over the past 12 months; how they are appointed; under what terms; and what has been their individual remuneration. [11932]
§ Jane KennedyOver the course of the past 12 months the Parades Commission has remunerated 15 authorised officers. Recruitment was carried out by the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland on behalf of the Parades Commission. Authorised officers are contracted for a minimum of 100 days per annum and their remit includes mediation, education and community development. Remuneration for authorised officers is currently £10,200 plus expenses per annum.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who decides the appointment of the Parades Commission commissioners, the length of contract and level of remuneration. [11930]
§ Jane KennedyThe appointments process is carried out in accordance with the Peach principles, and includes an external scrutiny element.
The posts are publicly advertised in the press and a selection panel meets to consider the applications received and a decision is taken whether to shortlist the candidates or invite all candidates for an interview. Candidates are interviewed by a selection panel, and a suitability submission is prepared for the Secretary of State's final approval of prospective commissioners.
Under the terms of Schedule 1 of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998 the Chairman and other members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term not exceeding three years subject to the provisions within the Act.
Also under the terms of Schedule 1 of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998 the Secretary of State may pay to the Chairman and other members of the Commission such remuneration as the Secretary of State may determine.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Parades Commission commissioners indicating their background prior to appointment, their other remunerated public or private posts and the time they are expected to commit to the Parades Commission over the period of one year. [11931]
§ Jane KennedyA list of the Parades Commission members and their backgrounds is available in the Parades Commission's Third Annual Report which was published in June, a copy of which is available in the Library of this House.
An update of Parades Commission members' backgrounds and interests is currently being compiled, and will be available at a later date.
Subject to provisions under paragraph 3, Schedule 1 of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998, a person shall hold and vacate office as a member, or as chairman of the 482W Commission, in accordance with the terms of his appointment. Remuneration as a member of the Parades Commission is for an average of two days per week.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the travel expenses of the Chairman of the Parades Commission have been since his appointment, broken down by(a) his first year in office, (b) the year to date, (c) travel to/from Northern Ireland and (d) internal travel in Northern Ireland. [11929]
§ Jane KennedyDuring his first year in office (February 2000–February 2001) £18,546 was incurred on travel. Up to and including 26 October 2001 the figure was £12,449. The amount spent on travel to and from Northern Ireland from the date of his appointment until 26 October 2001 was £21,398. The cost of internal travel in Northern Ireland for the same period was £9,597. These figures do not include travel in London which was unavailable in the format required and would incur disproportionate costs to compile.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the procedure for complaint with respect to the work of an authorised officer of the Parades Commission. [11933]
§ Jane KennedyAny complaints about the work of authorised officers should be made, if necessary in writing, to the Parades Commission.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nights the Chairman of the Parades Commission has spent in Northern Ireland; and what the estimated cost of the provision of overnight accommodation is. [11928]
§ Jane KennedySince his appointment the Chairman of the Parades Commission has spent 126 nights in Northern Ireland. Rented accommodation is provided at a cost of £8,340 per annum.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Chairman of the Parades Commission was appointed; what his(a) length of contract and (b) level of remuneration is; and what criteria will be used to assess whether his time in office has been successful. [11927]
§ Jane KennedyThe Chairman of the Parades Commission was appointed on 19 February 2000 for a period of two years. Remuneration for the Chairman is £50,400 plus expenses per annum. The normal range of factors applying to public appointments will be taken into account in assessing the chairman's contribution.
§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people the Parades Commission employs, broken down by levels of remuneration. [11926]
§ Jane KennedyThe Parades Commission consists of six members each earning £26,000 plus expenses per annum and a Chairman earning £50,400 plus expenses per annum. The Commission is assisted by a Secretariat currently staffed by a total of 11 seconded civil servants. The cost of the Secretariat salaries in 2000-01 was £285,000.