§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the terms and conditions of service, including remuneration, of the past two chairmen of the British Council and the present holder of that office. [HL3657]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe terms and conditions offered for the Chairmanship of the British Council when it was advertised in December 1997 were as follows:
"The British Council offers an honorarium of c. £35,000 per annum for an average time commitment of two days per week, involving UK based work and overseas travel in equal measure.
The appointment, which is only open to British citizens, will be for three years, with the possibility of extension or renewal. Board Members do not normally serve beyond the age of 70."
The present chair was appointed after national advertisement and selection from over 150 applicants. This procedure was instituted to comply with Nolan principles. The honorarium offered was to attract a person of the highest professional standing and was 119WA based on comparable remuneration in the public sector. So far the honorarium has not been paid because a question on the payment of any honorarium to a trustee of a body with charity status has been raised by the Charity Commissioners.
In 1992 Sir Martin Jacomb was appointed on the payment of an honorarium of £9,215. Details of the terms and conditions of previous chairmen are not readily available. The new arrangement of public appointment and published honorarium was to comply with the Nolan principles.