HC Deb 05 March 1998 vol 307 cc724-6W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were employed by the Housing Executive(a) five and (b) 10 years ago; and what were the numbers at the latest available date. [32251]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose Chief Executive advises me that the information is as follows:

Year Number employed
To 31 December 1997 2,903
1992–93 3,327
1987–88 3,531

The figures include permanent and temporary staff.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been recruited to permanent posts by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each of the last five years. [32249]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose Chief Executive advises me that the information is as follows:

Year Number
1997 18
1996 17
1995 16
1994 33
1993 30

These were mostly for basic trainee, technical or specialist posts.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the percentage pay increases for each level of management in the Housing Executive in each of the last five years. [32250]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose Chief Executive advises me that pay increases for all Housing Executive staff are governed by the National Joint Council Conditions of Service, applying to Local Government employees. Over the last 5 years, the annual salary increase has been 2.5 per cent. In addition, staff not on the maximum of their salary scale may be entitled to annual increments. Increases

Year Total in grade Temporary male Permanent male Temporary female Permanent female
Clerical/Secretarial
December 1997 649 80 55 161 353
December 1996 747 83 69 138 457
December 1995 787 95 71 155 466
December 1994 794 97 72 149 476
December 1993 790 84 75 175 486
Management
December 1997 247 1 144 1 101
December 1996 254 148 2 104
December 1995 256 153 1 102
December 1994 262 157 105
December 1993 265 161 104

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 12 December 1997, Official Report, column 712. Details of religious affiliation for the whole organisation are reflected in the annual return for monitoring made to the Fair Employment Commission.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many posts at each level in the Housing Executive management structure have been filled by(a) external applicants and (b) persons already in the employment of the Executive in each of the last five years. [32248]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose Chief Executive advises me that, because of reducing running costs budgets and re-organisation, vacancies have been filled by redeployment and promotion of existing staff, with the exception of one third tier post, which was filled by an external candidate.

External applicants Persons already in the employment of the Executive
Management level 1997 1997 1998
First and second tier1 1 2 0
Third tier2 0 0 311
1 The first tier is the Chief Executive and the second tier comprises the Directors.
2 Assistant Directors and Area Managers.
3 Filled by re-deployment of staff at the existing grade and by internal promotion.

for Directors are determined under a Performance Pay Scheme which is capped at 2.5 per cent. of the salary bill for that grade.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been employed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at its basic level of secretarial/management employment in each of the last five years; and how many of the posts were(a) temporary and for what periods and (b) permanent; how many employees in each category were (i) male and (ii) female; and how many in each category and gender were (1) Roman Catholic, (2) Protestants and (3) others. [32247]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland HousingExecutive, whose Chief Executive advises me that there is no basic level of secretarial/management grade; however, the breakdown of the broad categories of equivalent grades are: