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18 Dec 2008 : Column 990W—continued
OGC Strategic Assignment Consultancy Service
Daniell Consulting
Deloitte
T and S International
Watts and Partners
Williamson Consulting
Keppies Design
IB Solutions
Grafton Recruitment
L'Estrange and Brett
BDO Stoy Hayward
Jenkinson Consulting
Napier Watson
AH Design
Parity
Colin Burrows CICS Ltd
ASM Horwath
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Anderson Spratt
Tim Lewis Recruitment
Clariteq Systems Consulting
AASK
The Test Store
Penna PLC
Turley Associates
Osprey Mott MacDonald
TTC International
Clare Consulting
PA Consulting
DLA Piper
Cleaver Fulton and Rankin
Securetest
Anderson Spratt
BB Consultancy Ltd.
Parasol
MMMA
Aedas
ICS Computing
Queens University Belfast
Building Design Partnership
Hewlett Packard
Forensic Science Services
Karolyn Cooper Drafting Services
Mentec International Ltd
JBM Consultants Ltd
Crown Architectural
The Whitehall and Industry Group
Departmental Early Retirement
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's policy is on early retirement. [243232]
Mr. Woodward: Early retirement is governed by the rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) or Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme NI (PCSPSNI). The Department considers each individual case on its merits and in accordance with business needs.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2006-07 and (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices. [241233]
Paul Goggins: Departmental expenditure on ministerial hospitality is not recorded in a way that is easily identifiable and so to provide the information requested could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Expenditure on hospitality is set out in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 881W, on departmental hospitality, if he will list each of the events hosted. [243245]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows:
Spring reception for representatives from the business, community and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland;
Reception hosted by the Prime Minister;
Royal Garden Party attended by HM Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh held at university of Ulster, Coleraine, Co. Antrim;
Summer garden party for representatives of the Northern Ireland Prison Service;
Summer garden party for representatives from the business, community and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland;
Summer reception for representatives from the business, community and voluntary sectors;
Reception to mark contribution of the General Federation of Trade Unions;
Reception to mark honorary awards made to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning;
Reception for the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee;
Reception to mark the opening of a gallery at Hillsborough Castle;
Reception for Vital Voices;
Reception for RUC Widows Association;
Reception to mark elevation of Archbishop Brady to become a Cardinal;
Reception to mark contribution of the charity Childline;
Christmas reception for representatives of the criminal justice community in Northern Ireland;
Christmas reception for representatives of the police and military community in Northern Ireland;
Christmas reception for representatives from the business, community and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland;
Christmas reception for key Northern Ireland stakeholders in London;
Reception to mark royal investiture ceremony;
Spring reception for representatives from the business, community and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland.
I also hosted several meetings with private individuals at which hospitality was provided in the course of my normal duties.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 881W, on departmental hospitality, where each of the events was held. [243246]
Paul Goggins: The events referred to in the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 881W, were all held at Hillsborough Castle with the exception of the royal garden party at Coleraine, Co. Antrim and the Christmas reception held at the Northern Ireland Office in London.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 881W, on departmental hospitality, which firms were used to supply hospitality. [243247]
Paul Goggins: The hospitality referred to in the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 881W, was provided in Northern Ireland through a tendered contract with catering company Hamilton and Kirk.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 30 October 2008, Official Report, columns 1169-70W, on departmental pay, how many people did not receive bonuses. [243385]
Mr. Woodward: In 2007-08, 1,084 people did not receive a bonus.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 30 October 2008, Official Report, columns 1169-70W, on departmental pay, what procedure is used to decide whether bonuses should be awarded. [243386]
Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office operates three bonus schemes.
Directors (senior civil service pay band 2) have delegated authority to award special bonuses in their business areas throughout the reporting year, which are available for all staff up to assistant director level. Nominations for special bonus awards can be made by any member of staff at any stage during the year and each director is responsible for assessing those recommendations for staff within his/her directorate and approving payment, as appropriate. This is normally done on a quarterly basis.
Annual performance related bonuses for staff below the senior civil service are part of the NIO's overall pay arrangements. Individual bonus recommendations are made by line managers and moderated by panels across the Department under the supervision of more senior managers.
Bonuses for SCS staff are calculated on the basis of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body. Individual bonus recommendations are made by line managers and these are moderated by a number of remuneration committees with the involvement of a non-executive director.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 30 October 2008, Official Report, columns 1169-70W, on departmental pay, how many non-pensionable bonuses have been awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last five years; and what the cost was of such bonuses. [243387]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office operates three bonus schemes. All bonuses paid under these are non-consolidated. The Special Bonus Scheme rewards particularly meritorious contributions during the year. The two end of year bonus schemes reward performance and delivery throughout the year for Grade D2 to A staff, and for Senior Civil Service staff. The numbers and cost of these over the last five years are set out in the following tables.
| Special bonuses | ||
| Number of awards | Total cost (£) | |
| End of year bonuses | ||
| Number of awards | Total cost (£) | |
Departmental Retirement
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have retired from his Department in each of the last five years, broken down by age. [243234]
Mr. Woodward: The following tables provide details of the number of staff who have retired from the Department in each of the last five years.
| Between age 60 and 65 | ||||||
| 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | |
| Actuarially reduced retirement | ||||
| 50 | 52 | 58 | 59 | |
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