HC Deb 01 November 1995 vol 265 cc249-51W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department (ii) agencies (iii) non-departmental bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40818]

Mr. John M. Taylor

In addition to the headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department and associated offices, the Lord Chancellor has responsibility for four agencies: the Court Service, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. He also has responsibility for the Legal Aid Board and the Northern Ireland Court Service. As the question concerns a specific operational matter, the chief executives of the Land Registry and the Public Record Office have been asked to reply direct. This answer is, however, given on behalf of headquarters and the remaining agencies, the Legal Aid Board and the Northern Ireland Court Service.

It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the highest salary in payment in the Lord Chancellor's Department's headquarters falls within the £95,000 to £99,999 band in both 1994–95 and 1995–96.

In the Court Service, which did not become an agency until April 1995, the highest salary in payment in 1995–96 falls within the £75,000 to £79,999 band.

In the Public Trust Office the highest salary in payment in both 1994–95 and 1995–96 falls within the £55,000 to £59,999 band.

It has not been possible in the time available to identify the lowest salaries actually in payment either in LCD headquarters or the agencies. But the lowest starting pay of the most junior grade at age 16 falls in band £4,000 to £9,999. There has been no increase in these rates of pay since April 1994.

The highest salary in payment to staff of the Northern Ireland Court Service in both 1994–95 and 1995–96 falls within the £60,000 to £64,999 band: the lowest salary which has been in payment for both years falls within the £5,000 to £9,999 band.

In the Legal Aid Board, the lowest salary in payment in both 1994–95 and 1995–96 fell within the £5,000 to £9,999 band. The highest annual salary in 1994–95 fell within the £75,000 to £79,999 band. In 1995–96, the highest salary in payment falls within the band £65,000 to £69,999, with a possible additional bonus payable at the end of the year.

Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 1 November 1995:

I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question on the (a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in the Land Registry in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96.It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band:
  • 1994–95: £5,000-£9,999
  • 1995–96: £5,000-£9,999
The highest full-time salary fell within the band:
  • 1994–95: £65,000-£69,999
  • 1995–96: £65,000-£69,999
I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 1 November 1995:

I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply in respect of the Public Record Office, to your question about the lowest and highest full-time salaries paid to employees in 1994–95 and 1995–96.It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band:
  • 1994–95: £ 10,000-£14,999
  • 1995–96: £10,000-£14,999
  • The highest full-time salary fell within the band:
  • 1994–95: £60,000-£64,999
  • 1995–96: £60,000-£64,999
The Keeper of Public Records' salary is published in the Public Record Office's Annual Report, a copy of which is deposited in the Library of the House.