§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what remuneration the chief executive of the Employment Service received in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what is planned for 1996–97. [15672]
§ Mr. ForthResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mike Fodgen to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 19 February 1996.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about my remuneration as Chief Executive of the Employment service.The information about my total remuneration for 1994/95. including a non-consolidated performance bonus and taxable benefits, is published in the Employment Service Annual Report & Accounts which was presented to Parliament in July 1995. A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.The comparable figure for 1995/96 will not be available until any bonus payable has been agreed after the end of the financial year.Similarly, it is not possible to calculate in advance what my remuneration will be in 1996/97.
§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the number and costs of payments made erroneously to claimants as a result of industrial action in jobcentres between 30 November 1995 and 19 February 1996. [15674]
§ Mr. ForthResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 19 February 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number and costs of payments made erroneously to claimants as a result of industrial action in Jobcentres between 30 November 1995 and 19 February 1996.Details of overpayments made are collected quarterly. The figures for the quarter ended December 1995 are being collated. To date there is no upward trend. The next set of figures will relate to the period ending 31 March. Therefore, no current information is available about changes in levels of overpayments during the period since the industrial action started.Overpayments can, and do, arise for a variety of reasons and it would be very difficult to identify separately overpayments which are directly attributable to the industrial action. To do this would require complex analysis and reporting arrangements additional to those presently in place. These would add to the burden of those continuing to work in the affected offices and further hinder the ability of the Employment Service to maintain a customer service in such times.I hope this helps explain the situation.
§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide a breakdown of the extra costs contracted by the Employment Service as a result of industrial action in jobcentres between 30 November 1995 and 19 February 1996. [15673]
13W
§ Mr. ForthResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 19 February 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the extracost to the Employment Service of the industrial action organised by the Civil and Public Services Association in jobcentres between 30 November 1995 and 19 February 1996.The information you request is not kept centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, it is more likely that any additional costs incurred, for example by employing temporary workers or additional security guards, will be more than offset by savings made as a result of withholding pay from those who have chosen to strike.I hope this is helpful.