HL Deb 10 February 2003 vol 644 cc102-4WA
Baroness Goudie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will publish the 2003 report of the review body on senior salaries. [HL1587]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The 2003 report of the review body on senior salaries, which makes recommendations about the pay of the senior Civil Service, senior military personnel and the judiciary, was published on 6 February 2003. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and the Libraries of the House.

The main recommendations of the review body are:

an increase from 1 April 2003 of 2.25 per cent to the pay ranges for each of the three Senior Civil Service pay bands below Permanent Secretary; a range of base pay awards from 0 to 9 per cent based on performance; a minimum bonus payment of 3 per cent or £2,500, whichever is the higher, for those making the greatest contribution; and an uplift to the Permanent Secretaries pay ranges resulting in a new range of £118,750 to £251,500.

an across-the-board settlement of 2.75 per cent for the judiciary, in addition to 4.4 per cent which they will receive as the second and final stage of their 2002 award. The Lord Chief Justice will receive a further £10,000 in addition to this to redress slippage which has occured over recent years between his post (as the senior full-time serving judge) and that of the Cabinet Secretary (as Head of the Civil Service).

an increase from 1 April 2003 of 2.25 per cent in the value of all points on the incremental pay scales for senior military officers.

The Government have decided to accept these recommendations. Their cost will be met within existing departmental expenditure limits.

Pay increases for Members of Parliament and Ministers are linked automatically to the increase in pay bands for the senior civil service. Their pay entitlement will therefore increase from 1 April 2003 by 2.25 per cent.