§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the pay dispute in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. [159558]
§ Mr. PearsonExtensive negotiations over several months did not result in an agreed pay deal for the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration this year. Management Side presented an offer worth 3.67 per cent. on 5 November. As this could not be agreed, and Trade Union Side declined to negotiate within the 3.67 per cent. envelope, we took the decision1660W to proceed to pay the award and communicated this to staff and Trade Union Side on 27 November. I have made clear to Trade Union Side that the 3.67 per cent. deal is the maximum that can be paid. We are however exploring other reasonable means of resolving the dispute. Meetings with Trade Union Side took place on Thursday 19 February and Monday 8 March, and a further meeting is being arranged.
Members of the NI Civil Service working in the Northern Ireland Office are subject to separate pay negotiations involving three Unions: NIPS A, PCS and the PDA. A formal offer of 3 per cent. was made to the Unions but was rejected. NIO intend to proceed to pay the award at the end of March.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what annual pay rises have been awarded to(a) the Northern Ireland civil service and (b) senior civil servants in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [159559]
§ Mr.PearsonThe annual pay rises awarded to(a)the Northern Ireland civil service and (b)senior civil servants in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997 are follows:
Percentage Civil servants below the SCS Senior civil servants 2003 3.67 5.37 2002 5.5 4.38 2001 4.85 4.4 2000 4.5 4.4 1999 3.97 4.3 1998 3.2 5.5 1997 3.2 4.5