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Disclosure of Interests
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department. [56460]
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Mr. Leslie: All advisory and executive non- departmental public bodies are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by my Department, and they should have registers of interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of their NDPBs.
The table lists the NDPBs sponsored by this Department and in each case indicates what the relevant Code of Practice is and where it is available.
| Name of body | Board members code of practice | Code of practice for board members of advisory NDPBs | Where available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advisory Committee on Advertising | Yes | Upon request from the secretary | |
| Advisory Committee on Business Appointments | Under review | Not yet available | |
| Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside | Yes | Upon request from the secretary | |
| Better Regulation Taskforce | Yes | Upon request from the secretary | |
| Civil Service Appeal Board | Yes | On request from the secretary | |
| Committee on Standards in Public Life | Yes | On internet at www.public-standards.gov.uk or on request from the secretary | |
| Equal Opportunities Commission | Yes | Incorporated in the EOC corporate governance document—available from the EOC | |
| Honours Scrutiny Committee | No code in place. (Interest declared on the House of Lords' Register) | ||
| House of Lords Appointments Commission | Yes | On internet at www.houseoflordsappointmentscommission.gov.uk or on request from the secretary | |
| Security Commission | Yes | On request from the secretary | |
| Security Vetting Appeals Panel | Yes | On request from the secretary | |
| Senior Salaries Review Body | Under review | Not yet available | |
| Women's National Commission | Yes | On request from the Women's National Commission |
Pensions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent by his Department on paying pensions to retired employees of his Department in 2001–02; if he will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in (a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if he will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if he will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years. [57355]
Mr. Leslie: The Cabinet Office has responsibility for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS)—the occupational pension arrangement for civil servants.
The PCSPS is an unfunded public service scheme made under the Superannuation Act 1972. all payments of pension and related benefits to former members of the PCSPS or their dependants are made from the Civil Superannuation Vote, for which the Cabinet Office are accountable.
Net expenditure on civil service pension and related benefits for the year 2001–02 was as follows:
| £ billion | |
|---|---|
| Gross | 2.8 |
| Net of employer and employee contributions | 1.4 |
Estimated net expenditure in five years' time, 10 years' time, 20 years' time and 30 years' time is estimated by GAD as follows:
| Gross | Net of employer and employee contributions | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 3.0 | 1.1 |
| 10 years | 3.2 | 1.2 |
| 20 years | 3.6 | 1.6 |
| 30 years | 3.7 | 1.6 |
New pension arrangements for the civil service are being introduced from 1 October 2002. These will give existing staff the choice between remaining in the existing scheme or moving to a new defined benefit scheme; new entrants will have a choice between joining the new defined benefit scheme or a good quality defined contribution arrangement. It has been assumed, solely for the purpose of these projections, that:
- all existing staff will opt to remain in the existing scheme and continue to pay an employee contribution of 1.5 per cent. of pay; and
all new entrants will opt to join the new defined benefit scheme with an employee contribution of 3.5 per cent. of pay.
- in circumstances where the future pattern of options is not known; and
the changes in pension arrangement are cost neutral for employers
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-
the projections provide a reasonable estimate of future expenditure.
Temporary Staff
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many employees under contract from temping agencies were working in his Department and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [58187]
Mr. Leslie: The number of employees working in the Cabinet Office under contract from temping agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Estimated expenditure on temporary staff in the Cabinet Office is as follows:
| Year | £000 | Percentage of total staffing budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,135 | 2.1 |
| 1998–99 | 1,589 | 2.6 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,907 | 2.7 |
| 2000–01 | 3,250 | 4.0 |
Final figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.
The figures include the Central Office of Information which, although not part of the Cabinet Office, also reports to me.
Sick Leave
Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department last year; how many related to employees suffering from (a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department. [56482]
Mr. Leslie: Cabinet Office publishes an analysis of sickness absence in the civil service each year. The most recently published figures (available on the Cabinet office website) are for calendar year 2000. Cabinet Office Departments (which included in that year GCDA and COI but not RCU) had an average of 4.6 working days absence per staff year.
The report estimates the overall cost of sickness absence within the civil service but does not provide a breakdown by Department.
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Cabinet Office's internal records show the following levels of absence for (a) stress related illness and (b) other mental health problems.
| 2001 | Number |
|---|---|
| Working days lost through: | |
| stress related illness and sickness | 1,321 |
| other mental health illness | 0 |
Neither GCDA nor COI holds this information.
A breakdown of the specific cost of these absences is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Cabinet Office is committed to improving levels of attendance. It is aware of its responsibilities as an employer to provide a safe and healthy working environment and is actively working to ensure that working days lost through work-related injury or illness are minimal.
TREASURY
Unpaid Advisers
Mr. Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 246W, what the (a) names and (b) responsibilities are of unpaid advisers who have assisted the work of his Department since June 1997 but are not included in (i) the Cabinet Office's annual report "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews 2000–01" and (ii) his previous answer. [57043]
Ruth Kelly [holding answer 21 May 2002]: There is nothing I can usefully add to my answer of 10 April.
Disclosure of Interests
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department. [56456]
Ruth Kelly: All advisory and executive non- departmental public bodies are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of members' interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of their NDPBs.
The following table lists the NDPBs sponsored by this Department and in each case indicates what the relevant Code of Practice is; where it is available and where information may be found on registers of members interests.
| Name and status of body | Location of Code of Practice and register of members interests |
|---|---|
| Statistics Commission(15) | Published on Statistics Commission public website (address www.statscom.org.uk, in the "how we operate section"). Also available in that section is the register of Commissioners' interests |
| Public Service Productivity Panel(15) | The panel's Code of Conduct is available on application to the secretary of the panel, and will soon be available on the HM Treasury website (address http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Documents/Public Spending and Services/Public Services Productivity Panel/pss psp backgrd.cfm) |
| The register of members interests is in the process of being updated and the new version will be available on the panel's web |
(15) Advisory NDPB
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