§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the first chief executive of the Special European Programmes Body was suspended; and why he was subsequently re-instated, before he then resigned within a week. [HL407]
§ Baroness AmosMr McKinney, the chief executive of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), was suspended from duty on 21 May 2003 because he was the subject of a police investigation, relating to an issue arising from his previous employment with Omagh District Council. The police investigation remains ongoing. It was agreed between the British and Irish Governments and Mr McKinney that it would be in the interests of all concerned, and in the public interest, to end the uncertainty arising from the suspension and enable the SEUPB and Mr McKinney to go their separate ways on agreed terms. Thus it was agreed that Mr McKinney would be reinstated as chief executive of the SEUPB with effect from noon on Friday 5 December 2003 and that he would then resign with effect from Wednesday 10 December 2003.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a letter of apology was issued to the chief executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body for his suspension, once he was re-instated. [H L408]
§ Baroness AmosNo.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the expenditure of the Special European Union Programmes Body on (a) outside consultants; and (b) staff costs in each year since its inception. [H L457]
§ Baroness AmosDetails of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) expenditure on outside consultants and staff costs for the years available since its inception are provided below:
20001 2001 2002 Expenditure Staff costs £433,409 £587,574 £914,491 Consultancy £68,788 £193,956 £52,909 1 Covers the period 2 December 1999 to 31 December 2000.