§ Mr. Pattieasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the basic entry grade and the career grade for scientists joining the Civil Service with good honours degrees.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe entry grade for scientists joining the Civil Service with a good honours degree but with no additional experience is the Scientific Officer grade. There is no specified career grade. Most direct-entry scientific officers, which include those with honours degrees, reach the Senior Scientific Officer grade, the best reach Principal Scientific Officer and some may progress further.
§ Mr. Pattieasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the salary maximum for Government scientists in their career grade; and how this compares with veterinary staff in their career grade.
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§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisScientific and veterinary staff enter the Civil Service in any of a number of grades depending upon each individual's qualifications and experience. There are no specified career grades. The following tables show the current salary maximum for each grade in the Science Group and the Veterinary Officer Class. The salary figures shown in respect of the Veterinary Officer Class are currently under review.
SCIENCE GROUP Grade current salary maximum* £ Chief Scientific Officer (Lower Band) 10,950 Deputy Chief Scientific Officer 9,440 Senior Principal Scientific Officer 7,750 Principal Scientific Officer 5,550 Senior Scientific Officer 4,441 Higher Scientific Officer 3,371 Scientific Officer 2,675 Assistant Scientific Officer 1,899
VETERINARY OFFICER CLASS Grade current salary maximum* £ Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer 8,850 Regional Veterinary Officer 8,100 Deputy Regional Veterinary Officer (VI)/Senior Research Officer I 7,750 Deputy Regional Veterinary Officer 7,116 Divisional Veterinary Officer/Senior Research Officer II 6,284 Veterinary Officer I/Research Officer I 4,505 Veterinary OfficerII/Research Officer II 3,843 * Excluding London Weighting where applicable and threshold payments.
§ Mr. Pattieasked the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of promotions in the scientific Civil Service are "merit" promotions.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisAll promotions in the Civil Service are on merit and are normally made to posts with fixed gradings. In some areas of work, such as research, where a system of fixed grading is not possible, there is provision to adjust gradings where both the needs of the work and the level of an individual's contribution warrant it. Promotions in these areas are sometimes called "merit" promotions, but it would not be possible to quantify them without disproportionate cost. At senior levels there is a formal scheme for "individual merit promotion" for staff working in science and technology and this accounts for about 20 per cent. of all promotions at those levels.