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Emergency Planning

Mr. Francois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to introduce new framework legislation on emergency planning; and if he will make a statement. [71184]

Mr. Alexander: My right hon. Friend Lord Macdonald of Tradeston is chairing a sub-committee of the Civil Contingencies Committee to press forward with work on laying the foundations of a Civil Contingencies Bill. The first meeting of the committee was held on 17 July 2002. A wide range of stakeholders will be involved in the agreed work programme, including those from relevant Government Departments, their agencies and non- departmental public bodies, the devolved Administrations, the local authorities, the emergency services, the private sector and outside organisations.

The Government plan to introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Public Servant (Definition)

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how the Government define the term "public servant"; if

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he will provide a list of who is included in this definition; and what the average annual salary is for public servants, broken down by region. [71016]

Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.

For the purposes of the New Earnings Survey (NES) public servants are defined as public sector employees in each of the following areas:

(a) Central Government—Government Departments and establishments, directly employed health staff (excluding trusts) and various government-financed organisations. (The armed forces are not covered by the NES).
(b) Local government—Local government authorities (including education authorities), police service and various other organisations.
(c) Public corporations—Nationalised industries, NHS trusts, and other publicly-constituted trading organisations.

Average annual earnings for the Public Sector in 2001 are as follows:

Gross annual earnings£

	2001
North East	20,199
North West	21,377
East Midlands	21,705
West Midlands	22,048
South West	21,743
East	22,604
London	26,925
South East	22,658
Wales	21,044
Scotland	21,544
Yorkshire and the Humber	21,620
Public Sector Average (GB)	22,435

Source:

New Earnings Survey April 2001

Civil Service Pensions

Mr. Pond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to introduce new pension arrangements for the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement. [72618]

Mr. Alexander: I am today laying before Parliament, under the provisions of the Superannuation Act 1972, three amendment schemes. The first of these amends the rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and introduces new provisions for those joining the pension scheme on or after 1 October 2002. The second amendment scheme makes consequential changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, and the third amendment scheme removes the injury benefit provisions of the PCSPS to a separate scheme.

Pension arrangements for civil servants (and those in employments and offices listed in Schedule I to the Superannuation Act 1972) will change on 1 October 2002. New entrants joining after that date will generally be given the choice of a final salary pension or a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution. The new arrangements are being introduced on a cost-neutral basis for employers.

We recognise that pensions form a significant part of the Civil Service remuneration package, and we want civil servants to be able to choose the pension that suits them

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best. Today's Civil Service does not offer a job for life and is benefiting from greater interchange with other sectors at all levels within the organisation. Final salary pensions may be good for those who spend a long period with one employer, but those who change jobs frequently during their career may prefer their employer to contribute to a stakeholder pension. By giving our new staff a choice of two good quality pension alternatives we aim not only to support a more diverse Civil Service but also to raise awareness and appreciation of the value of the pension element of the pay package.

The new final salary option will be known as the premium scheme. It will provide a pension based on one-sixtieth of final pensionable earnings for each year of service. Other features of the premium scheme include:

option to exchange part of pension for lump sum on retirement;


ill-health pensions varying in amount depending on the extent of incapacity;


death-in-service lump sum of three times pay;


pensions for surviving spouses of 3/8ths of the member's pension;


pension payable to a surviving eligible unmarried partner if the member does not leave a spouse;


pensions for children

Existing members of the PCSPS will have the option of joining the premium scheme or remaining with the current provisions (to be renamed the classic scheme). Members opting for classic will continue to earn a pension based on 1/80th of pay for each year of service plus a retirement lump sum of three times pension. Members opting to join the premium scheme will have their past service reduced—typically to 92 per cent. of its previous amount—to reflect the improved benefit structure. Members may also opt for classic plus; this option effectively provides premium scheme benefits for service from 1 October with service before 1 October continuing to be pensioned broadly on the classic model.

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We are moving to the new arrangements on a cost-neutral basis, with the entire cost of benefit improvements being met by increased contributions by members. None of the cost of the benefit improvements will fall on the taxpayer. All premium and classic plus members will pay the new contribution rate of 3.5 per cent. Members opting to remain in the classic scheme will continue to pay contributions of 1.5 per cent. of pay.

The stakeholder pension alternative will be known as the partnership pension account. Employees will choose their pension provider from the following panel:

AMP Corporate Pensions


Scottish Widows


Standard Life


TUC.

Employees opting for a partnership pension account do not need to contribute, but will be encouraged to do so by having their contributions matched up to 3 per cent. of pay. In addition, the employer will pay contributions based on age, varying from 3 per cent. of pay for those under 21, to 12.5 per cent. of pay for those aged 46 and over. Lump sum benefits of up to three times pay on death in service and on ill health retirement will be provided separately, and will be the subject of future schemes under the Superannuation Act.

Civil Service remuneration is set having regard to the need to recruit, retain and motivate staff of the appropriate quality. Full account is taken of the value of pension arrangements, including the cost of index-linking, in setting the balance between the pay and pension elements of the reward package.

The Civil Service unions have been involved throughout the development of the new pension options, both in negotiating the terms and also in appraising their members of the options open to them. The unions' constructive involvement throughout this process stands as a testament to the value of partnership working.

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TRANSPORT

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Bulgaria Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71830]

Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of Article 13 of the Agreement of 26 July 2000 between the European Community and the Republic of Bulgaria establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EEC-Slovenia Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71831]

Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Slovenia in the field of transport which was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 29 July 1993. The remit of the committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met since the conclusion of the agreement or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Romania Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71829]

Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of the Agreement between the European Community and Romania establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the European Energy and Transport Forum is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71821]

Mr. Jamieson: I understand the European Energy and Transport Forum will meet for the first time later this year. Members of the Forum were selected by the European Commission following a call for applications

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published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 7 June 2002. I do not believe any representative of the Scottish Executive has been appointed as a member of the Forum.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71828]

Mr. Jamieson: This committee is established under the provisions of Article 22 of the Agreement between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the field of transport which was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 18 December 1997. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the Agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

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