§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the rate of the most recent pay increase per grade in the Northern Ireland Civil Service; what percentage difference the increase represents over the previous settlement; and, if there are differentials in the increase by grades, why. [HL653]
§ Baroness AmosThere are three separate groups for pay purposes within the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration: non-industrial staff up to and including Grade 6, the Senior Civil Service (SCS) and industrial staff.
For non-industrial staff up to and including Grade 6 the 2003 pay award was worth 3.67 per cent overall. The amount received by an individual depends on his or her current position on the pay scale, but the majority of individuals are receiving increases of between 2 per cent and 6 per cent. For these grades pay negotiations are carried out between the Department of Finance and Personnel, on behalf of all 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration, and the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA). The 2002 pay increase for grades up to and including Grade 6 was worth 5.5 per cent overall and was therefore 1.83 per cent more than the 2003 increase.
The 2003 increase for the SCS was worth 5.37 per cent. The amount received by an individual depended on performance ranking and position in the payband. A separate pay system exists for the SCS with increases made on the basis of recommendations made by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. Unlike the other staff groups the SCS pay award process does not involve negotiations with trade unions. The 2002 pay increase for the SCS was worth 4.38 per cent and was therefore 0.99 per cent less than the 2003 increase.
For industrial staff, departments have responsibility for carrying out their own pay negotiations and these have yet to be concluded for the 2003 pay round.