§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the schemes her Department operates to assist staff facing financial hardship following a transfer, showing(a) the particular criteria and rules applying to each one, including the circumstances under which any loans can be written off, (b) the total amount loaned or granted under the schemes in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94 and (c) the number of staff assisted in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94.
§ Mr. JackThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food operates a scheme to assist staff facing financial difficulties where the current market conditions result in their existing property realising less than the amount of the original mortgage.
The normal line of assistance by the Ministry to meet these shortfalls is an interest-bearing loan at commercial rates repayable over up to 12 years. However, where individuals would face genuine financial hardship as a result of being required to pay interest on a loan and a mortgage, an interest-free advance of salary up to a maximum of one year's gross pay repayable over up to 15 years may be granted. In very exceptional cases, where a combination of these measures is not sufficient to solve the problem, some level of write-off may be made.
In the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 to date, my Department has awarded one member of staff an advance of salary under this scheme. This was made in the year 1993–94 for an amount of £5,913. No write-offs have been made.