§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
At what meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council discussions took place about the failure to make pension provision for chief executives of implementation bodies over the last three years; and what course of action was decided upon. [HL861]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)Pension provision for chief executives of implementation bodies was discussed at North/South Ministerial Council meetings on 26 September 2000 and 17 December 2001.
I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 9 December 2002 (WA 2), which outlined steps being taken (in accordance with decisions taken by NSMC at those meetings) to make the necessary pension provision for all staff working in implementation bodies. When the arrangements for a pension scheme are finalised the scheme will require approval from the two finance Ministers and the NSMC.