§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current financial cost of the social security commissioners and child support commissioners within the Northern Ireland court service; what were the costs in each financial year from 1990 to 1995; and if he will provide a breakdown of the costs. [20520]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansThe estimated financial cost of the office of the social security commissioners and child support commissioners for the current financial year is as follows:
Commissioners' salary costs £ Staff salary costs £ Ancillary costs £ 175,426.44 102,290.94 47.373.11 Ancillary costs include postage, rent, electricity, maintenance, cleaning, service charges, telephones and travel.
The figures for each of the financial years from 1990 to 1995 are as follows:
Year Commissioners' salary costs £ Staff salary costs £ Ancillary costs £ Total £ 1990–91 119,444.79 90,590.06 32,396.00 242,430.85 1991–92 135,786.72 98,128.08 45,373.65 279,288.45 1992–93 153,751.28 97,606.59 65,960.82 317,318.69 1993–94 159,295.20 94,985.61 68,472.05 322,752.86 1994–95 168,385.91 103,583.58 294,284.51 566,254.00 The following amounts should be deducted from the overall yearly totals as they are recouped from the Department of Health and Social Services for the percentage of time spent by the commissioners and staff on cases involving non-contributory benefit:
- 1990–91: £67,588.04
- 1991–92: £75,578.39
- 1992–93: £34,940.86
- 1993–94: £99,465.27
- 1994–95: £106,077.08
- 1995–96: £51,359.19.