§ Lord Lairdasked her Majesty's Government:
What is the current status of the former chief executive of the European Special Programmes Implementation Body; whether he will be taking up 164WA his post again; and, if not, whether he is in receipt of a pension or other considerations as a result of his time as chief executive. [HL178]
§ Baroness AmosAfter being reinstated on Friday 5 December 2003 the chief executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) subsequently resigned with effect from Wednesday 10 December 2003. He was entitled to, and has received seven weeks' pay in lieu of notice. The North/South implementation bodies do not yet have a pension scheme, and in the interim period, Mr McKinney is entitled to payments equivalent to what would be payable under the provisions of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland). The lump sum equivalent to what would be payable under those terms is being paid immediately. Mr McKinney also received a one-offex gratia payment of £20,000, and solicitors' costs of £2,500, under the terms agreed with the British and Irish Governments to resolve the uncertainty over the SEUPB, in the public interest.