§ 35. Gregory BarkerTo ask the President of the Council when the Lord Chancellor's pension arrangements were last reviewed. [101904]
§ Mr. Robin CookThe Review Body on Top Salaries reviewed the Lord Chancellor's pension arrangements in 1988; section 3 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 formalised the salary lead over the 155W Lord Chief Justice, which went through both Houses with all party agreement; and under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Order 1996, the Lord Chancellor's salary is automatically set at £2,500 more than the salary of the Lord Chief Justice.
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the President of the Council what the value is of the national pension funds that would be required to pay the Lord Chancellor's pension calculated on the basis of(a) the salary resulting from the recommendations of the report No. 54 of the Senior Salaries Review Body and (b) the reduced salary which the Lord Chancellor has indicated that he would accept. [97799]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[holding answer 13 February 2003]: The notional value of the Lord Chancellor's pension package (including dependants' benefits) which in fact is payable from the Consolidated Fund is estimated at around £2 million based on his current salary of £180,045. All other things being the same, this figure will vary on a pro-rata basis with his salary.
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the President of the Council whether the Lord Chancellor's pension will be based on the full salary he has been awarded from 1 April. [97800]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[holding answer 13 February 2003]: The SSRB has been asked to look at the remuneration of the office of Lord Chancellor and make recommendations. Pending the outcome of this review, the Lord Chancellor's pension will be based on his salary at the time he leaves office.