HL Deb 21 October 2004 vol 665 cc96-7WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In each year since 2000 what consultants the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has employed to help in the assessment of Waterways Ireland's business and corporate plans; and what payments each received. [HL4172]

Baroness Amos

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has not employed consultants to assess Waterways Ireland's business and corporate plans.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what basis Waterways Ireland places new engineering recruits on the salary scale; whether the policy has changed since 2000; and, if so how and why. [HL4173]

Baroness Amos

Waterways Ireland places new engineering and technician recruits on the salary scale in accordance with the policy and guidance issued by the Department of Finance and Personnel in the north and the Department of Finance in the south.

The body has difficulty in recruiting engineers and technicians at the minimum point of the salary scale, as initially instructed by the finance departments, and in June 2003 the finance departments delegated limited flexibility to Waterways Ireland to provide for entry above the minimum of salary scales for engineers and technicians only.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Waterways Ireland is staffed to the level agreed at the organisation's creation in 1999. [HL4361]

Baroness Amos

The North/South Ministerial Council approved the structure and a staffing complement of 381 for Waterways Ireland on 21 June 2000. The Body currently has 355 staff.