HL Deb 09 December 2002 vol 642 cc1-2WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many full-time permanent employees there were in each cross-border body set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, taking the Irish Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency separately, currently and for the year 2000 and the year 2001. [HL139]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The information requested, which relates to the numbers of permanent full-time staff (whole-time equivalents) employed in cross-border bodies currently and for the years 2000 and 2001 is as follows:

Body 31 December 2000 31 December 2001 October 2002
Food Safety Promotion Board 0 0 15
FCILC—Loughs Agency 25 35 35
Inter TradeIreland 1 24 34.7
Language Foras na Gaeilge 38 35 36
Language Ulster Scots Agency 0 0 0
Special EU Programmes Body 0 11 30
Waterways Ireland 0 3 284
Tourism Ireland 0 2 122

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November (WA167–170), why the chief executive officers of the cross-border bodies, set up in 1999, have not yet been provided with a pension; what other cross-border implementation body posts do not have pension provision; and what steps are being taken to make such provision. [HL255]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (NI) Order 1999 provides that the implementation bodies may, for such as their staff as they determine with the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council and the Finance Ministers, pay such pensions, allowance or gratuities, or provide and maintain such pension schemes, as may be so determined.

Currently the chief executives of the bodies are working towards a common pension scheme for the employees of the bodies and themselves, and it is anticipated that the scheme rules will be agreed by early in 2003. The appointment of a pension scheme administrator, to be selected through open competition, is expected to take place soon thereafter, with a view to the scheme commencing later in the year it is proposed that the provisions of the scheme will apply retrospectively to all staff, and will not be less favourable then those enjoyed under existing schemes. Such arrangements will require the approval of NS MC and the two Finance Ministers.