New Public Bodies (Hansard, 3 March 2000)

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112665]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
The annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies, provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those public bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1999 edition lists those public bodies in existence at 1 April 1999. Copies

Number of staff and their category Reason for terminations Period of notice Total cost (£)

11 aged 60+ who are being compulsorily retired Museum reorganisation 6 to 9 months 48,529

Nine aged between 50 and 60 who are taking early retirement but on a compulsory basis Museum reorganisation 6 months ¹190,470

22 persons under 50 who are taking compulsory early severance Museum reorganisation 6 months 1,035,510

Three others Performance or health grounds 2—no notice 0

1–13 weeks 0

¹ Additionally these staff will be paid an annual compensation cost until they reach age 60. The total cost in the current year is £67,950. Over the next few years this annual sum will reduce as people reach age 60. The overall present value of this payment, at current money values, is estimated to be £455,360. There will also be other one-off costs estimated at £184,390 relating to pension preservation and the bringing forward of lump sums.

Notes:
1. All the compensating amounts shown in the table derive from Civil Service Pension Scheme standard terms and conditions.
2. The table does not include staff whose fixed-term contracts have not been renewed. These terminations do not carry a cost to the Museum.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost of senior management salaries at the British Museum(a) is for the present year and (b) was for 1997. [112346]

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
The answers are:

Year Amount (£)

1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 181,602

1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 219,086

1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 323,560

Notes:
1. We have used as the definition of "senior management" those earning above £59,000 per annum, the threshold we use in pay negotiations following Treasury guidance.
2. Variances between years are due to adjustments to individual salaries and also to changes, since 1 April 1999, to senior management structures in the Museum.
3. These amounts include the salary costs of a senior manager whose appointment is for the life of the Great Court project only.
4. The senior management team has been strengthened for the task of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the British Museum.
432W
of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).
Since 1 April 1999 my Department has established the following advisory non-departmental public bodies:
Eight Regional Cultural Consortiums covering the following regions:

North West

North East

Yorkshire and Humberside

West Midlands

South West

East Midlands

South East

Eastern.

Number of staff and their category	Reason for terminations	Period of notice	Total cost (£)
11 aged 60+ who are being compulsorily retired	Museum reorganisation	6 to 9 months	48,529
Nine aged between 50 and 60 who are taking early retirement but on a compulsory basis	Museum reorganisation	6 months	¹190,470
22 persons under 50 who are taking compulsory early severance	Museum reorganisation	6 months	1,035,510
Three others	Performance or health grounds	2—no notice	0
		1–13 weeks	0
¹ Additionally these staff will be paid an annual compensation cost until they reach age 60. The total cost in the current year is £67,950. Over the next few years this annual sum will reduce as people reach age 60. The overall present value of this payment, at current money values, is estimated to be £455,360. There will also be other one-off costs estimated at £184,390 relating to pension preservation and the bringing forward of lump sums.

Year	Amount (£)
1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997	181,602
1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998	219,086
1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000	323,560