HC Deb 25 June 1984 vol 62 cc341-4W
Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the term managerial interest means in the context of the retirement compensation scheme for the New University of Ulster.

Mr. Scott

Under the premature retirement compensation scheme for universities, it is for each institution to judge whether, in the light of its own circumstances, the premature retirement of any member of staff is in the managerial interest. For the New University of Ulster, the judgment should rest partly on factors specific to each case and partly on the planned academic and administrative functions of the proposed University of Ulster.

Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) in the proposed University of Ulster, which member of staff will carry out the duties presently carried out by the rector of the Ulster Polytechnic; and in

Housing Executive's activities in the financial years from 1972–73 to 1982–83; and what is the estimated total cost for the current financial year;

(2) what figures in respect of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are available to indicate the totals at the end of each of the financial years from 1972–73 to 1982–83, with estimates for the current financial year of (a) the dwelling stock, (b) the collectable rent which should have been received from tenants, (c) the amount of rent received, (d) expenditure on repairs and maintenance of stock, (e) expenditure on new builds, (f) expenditure on rehabilitation of stock, (g) expenditure on grants to the private sector, (h) expenditure on salaries and administration, (i) expenditure incurred on interest charges and (j) grant received from the Department of the Environment.

Mr. Chris Patten

Information in the form requested is not readily available, particularly for years prior to the introduction of the current arrangements for the financing of Northern Ireland Housing Executive in 1977–78. The available information is set out in the following table:

what ways the duties, powers, privileges and responsibilities of that member of staff differ from those exercised and enjoyed by the registrar of the New University of Ulster;

(2) in the proposed University of Ulster, which member of the staff shall carry out the duties carried out by the registrar in the New University of Ulster; and in what ways the duties, powers, privileges and responsibilities of that member of staff will differ from those exercised and enjoyed by the registrar of the New University of Ulster.

Mr. Scott

The deployment of individual members of staff and decisions as to the duties, powers, privileges and responsibilities to be attached to specific posts are, under the draft charter of the proposed University of Ulster, matters for the council of the university.

Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the total number of administrative staff, namely, staff employed in administrative duties on administrative (academic-related) grades 1B, 1A, 2, 3 and 4, employed by the New University of Ulster; of that total how many have been or are being granted premature retirement, in the managerial interest, under the premature retirement compensation scheme in the period leading up to the merger with the Ulster Polytechnic; and what are the total sums paid and projected to be paid by his Department in (a) lump sums and (b) increased pension costs to meet the consequential cost;

(2) what is now the total number of staff employed full time by the New University of Ulster; of that total, how many are being granted premature retirement in the managerial interest, under the premature retirement compensation scheme, in the period leading up to the merger with the Ulster Polytechnic; and what are the total sums paid and projected to be paid by his Department in (a) lump sums and (b) increased pension costs to meet the consequential cost.

Mr. Scott

The New University of Ulster employs 722 full-time staff of whom 35 are in the specified administrative grades. Twenty eight members of staff, of whom 11 are in the specified administrative grades, are seeking premature retirement in the period 1 June to 30 September 1984.

The total cost to the Department of Education for Northern Ireland is expected to be about £860,000 of which about £225,000 relates to the administrative group; information is not available to disaggregate the lump sum and pension cost elements in this total.

Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report in relation to the following posts at the Ulster Polytechnic during the academic year 1981–82, (a) pro-rectors and (b) deans of faculties, the actual or estimated total number of hours devoted during the year by each to face-to-face contact with students, namely, in lectures, seminars and tutorials, work directly connected with the teaching of students, namely, in preparing syllabuses, setting examination papers and marking scripts, research and also the total number of hours devoted by each during the year to work connected with the management of the polytechnic, namely, in sitting on committees, dealing with management matters and on controlling nonacademic staff and engaging, within the terms of their employment, in social and recreational activities;

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report in relation to the following posts at the New University of Ulster, during the academic year 1981–82 (a) pro vice chancellors, (b) deans, (c) the Director of the Education Centre, (d) the Director of the Institute of Continuing Education and (e) the President of Magee University College, the actual or estimated total hours devoted during the year by each to face-to-face contact with the students, namely, in lectures, seminars, and tutorials, and in work directly connected with the teaching of students, namely, preparing syllabuses, setting examination papers and marking scripts and in research, and the actual or estimated total number of hours devoted by each to work connected with the management of the New University of Ulster, namely, on committees dealing with management matters, on controlling non-academic staff and engaging, within the terms of their employment, in social and recreational activities.

Mr. Scott

Information is not available in the form requested.

Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was his original estimate of the costs involved in merging the New University of Ulster and the Ulster Polytechnic; and what is his latest estimate, both estimates in real and cash terms.

Mr. Scott

The original estimate in 1982 was £650,000 and this has now been revised to £900,000; the increase is due mainly to the rise in employers contributions to the universities superannuation scheme. Both estimates are in cash terms; no other estimates are readily available.