§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the reason for the delay in settling the 1 April 1994 pay award for driving examiners and the executive and clerical support grades of the Driving Standards Agency.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 22 November 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Driving Standards Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from S.J. Ford to Mr. Jeff Rooker dated 23 November 1994:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question concerning the reason for the delay in settling the 1 April 1994 pay award for driving examiners and the executive, clerical and support grades of the Driving Standards Agency.In making any pay offer to staff for 1994–95, the Agency must be limited to what it can afford. Without ways of generating new money DSA's offer, had it been made quickly early in 1994, would have been very small, and at best, no more than one per cent. The Agency has tried since then to work up the pay increase to a higher level through productivity arrangements. In an attempt to generate higher productivity, and therefore earn more fees, the Agency has made an offer of 2.5 per cent. on average payable in the form of an attendance bonus. In acknowledgement of the delay since April part of this, in the form of a lump sum bonus not linked to attendance has been offered.