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For staff below the SCS, performance awards are paid to staff who meet the eligibility criteria. Higher levels of award are available for those who have contributed most to the business. These awards are distributed on the basis of relative assessment among peers and are designed to encourage continuous high attainment against stretching objectives. All MoD broader banded and Skill Zone staff below the SCS are eligible for a non-consolidated performance payment. MoD civilian
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Details of the number of staff below the SCS who received a non-consolidated performance payment, and the average and maximum values are set out in the table below.
| Financial Year 2006-07 | Financial Year 2007-08 | Financial Year 2008-09 | |
|
Number of staff who received a non-consolidated performance payment | |||
The MoD also operates an in-year non-consolidated payment scheme, the Special Bonus Scheme (SBS) which rewards eligible MoD civilians for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification the use of which benefits MoD and the individual. Additionally Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) officers may be awarded a payment for exceptional performance when dealing with a particularly demanding one-off task or situation; unpleasant one-off tasks or situations; or important one-off tasks or situations.
The table below details how many people received a non-consolidated in-year variable pay award, the average and maximum payment for the non-consolidated variable pay award.
| Financial Year 2006-07 | Financial Year 2007-08 | Financial Year 2008-09 | |
|
Number of staff who received a nonconsolidated performance payment | |||
Government Departments: Cars
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of providing official cars for (a) ministers, and (b) officials, in the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08. [HL1927]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): The Government Car and Despatch Agency is responsible for providing ministerial transport in line with the Ministerial Code.
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I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statements of 26 July 2007 [Official Report, cols. WS 100-101] and 22 July 2008 [Official Report, col WS142] in relation to information on numbers and costs for Ministers for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.
I would also refer the noble Lord to a Written Answer of 30 June 2008 given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the honourable Member for Poplar and Canning Town [Official Report, Commons, cols 578-80W] with regard to information on numbers and costs for Ministers 2003-04 and 2004-05.
The cost of providing official cars for 'officials' for the years 2007-08 and 2006-07 is as follows:
| Department | 2007-08 Charge (£) |
| Department | 2006-07 Charge (£) |
Information on the cost of providing official cars for "officials" for the years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Since 1 April 2009, departments publish on a quarterly basis the business costs for Director Generals and above. This will include the cost of the provision of an official car.
Government Departments: Consultancy Services
Questions
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent by departments and their agencies on consultancy and advisory work in each of the last five years for which information is available. [HL1708]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): Central government departments' spending on consultancy and advisory work in the 16 largest-spending departments decreased from
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The latest year for which figures are available is 2007-8. A breakdown of spend on consultancy and advisory work by department is available at:
www.ogc.gov.uk/professional_services_ consultancy_value_programme. asp.
The Pre-Budget Report announced that consultancy spend across government would be further reduced by 50 per cent by 2011-12.
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure they are getting value for money from consultancy and advisory firms; and what steps they are taking to ensure that medium- sized firms have access to tender processes. [HL1709]
Lord Myners: The Office of Government Commerce is leading a consultancy value programme (CVP) across government to ensure that better value for money is achieved from public sector spend on consultancy. The CVP helped reduce central government spend on consultancy and advisory work in the 16 largest-spending departments from £1,276 million in 2005-06 to £884 million (31 per cent) in 2007-08 by providing a range of initiatives and tools to help procurers and end-users of consultancy to identify when consultancy is the best solution; to ensure the procurement business case is robust; and to feel confident they are extracting best value out of the relationship with the consultancy supplier.
The Pre-Budget Report announced that consultancy spend across Government would be further reduced by 50 per cent by 2012.
To ensure that SMEs have equal opportunities to bid for government business, an OGC / BIS programme, Access for All, is currently implementing the recommendations made in the Glover committee report Accelerating the SME Economic Engine.
More detail about the recommendations and continuing progress on their implementation can be found via the following weblink: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/key_policy_principles_creating_opportunities_for_smes_ and_third_sector_organisations.asp
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations they have undertaken into possible savings from using consultancy and advisory services of smaller firms not on approved lists. [HL1710]
Lord Myners: The Government do not maintain lists of approved suppliers. However, Buying Solutions operates a management consultancy and accounting services framework agreement. Suppliers can bid to be on framework agreements when such contracts are let by Buying Solutions or individual departments. In these cases, as with all public sector contracts, it is for individual departments and agencies to determine what constitutes best value for money in resourcing their requirements for consultancy and advisory services.
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In 2006, NAO investigated central government's use of consultants and made specific recommendations to improve the way it assesses the need for, procures, and uses them. In response, OGC launched the consultancy value programme (CVP) in collaboration with government departments, to ensure that better value for money is achieved from consultancy within government. Consequently, central government spend on consultancy has decreased by 31 per cent over three years, from £1,276 million in 2005-06 to £884 million in 2007-08. The Pre-Budget Report announced that consultancy spend across government would be further reduced by 50 per cent by 2012.
The Government recognise the benefits that smaller consultancy firms can offer, and are taking steps to facilitate their participation in public procurement. To ensure that SMEs have equal opportunities to bid for government business, an OGC / BIS programme, Access for All, is currently implementing the recommendations made in the Glover committee report, Accelerating the SME Economic Engine.
More detail about the recommendations and continuing progress on their implementation can be found via the following weblink: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/key_policy_principles_creating_opportunities_for_smes_ and_third_sector_organisations.asp
Government Departments: Muslim Organisations
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings the Home Secretary and ministers in his department have had with Muslim organisations in each of the past three years; and what were the purposes of the meetings. [HL1576]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Ministers in the Home Office routinely meet with a wide range of organisations to discuss and communicate the business of the department.
Government: Law Officers
Questions
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the constitutional conventions and principles governing the circumstances in which Ministers of the Crown may seek to influence the advice given by Law Officers of the Crown to the Executive on matters of law or the public interest. [HL1736]
To ask Her Majesty's Government who has the constitutional responsibility to ensure that the Cabinet and Cabinet committees receive relevant advice from Law Officers of the Crown on matters of law or the public interest. [HL1737]
To ask Her Majesty's Government who has the constitutional responsibility to ensure that advice from Law Officers of the Crown to the Cabinet or
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The Attorney-General (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The form and content of the Law Officers' advice is a matter for the Law Officers. The Ministerial Code sets out the procedures for providing such advice to Cabinet or Cabinet committees.
Hillsborough Castle Agreement
Questions
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in relation to Section 3.3 of the agreement at Hillsborough Castle of 5 February, there was any or full consultation with and consent by Sir Reg Empey and Margaret Ritchie that they would co-chair a Working Group. [HL1951]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon:The agreement at Hillsborough Castle presumes no such consent. Section 3 sets out the intention of the First and Deputy First Ministers to invite Sir Reg Empey and Margaret Ritchie to co-chair the Working Group that will consider how the Executive might function better and how delivery might be improved.
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in relation to sections 1.2 and 1.3 of the Agreement at Hillsborough Castle of 5 February, the appointment of the Justice Minister is intended to set a precedent for the appointment of other Northern Ireland Executive Ministers, rather than by the d'Hondt system; and whether that is in line with the Belfast agreement or the St Andrews agreement. [HL1953]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The arrangements to appoint the Justice Minister by a cross-community vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly reflect the particular circumstances of the new Department of Justice. No precedent as regards other Ministers is intended to be set by the Justice Minister being appointed in this manner and other ministerial portfolios will continue to be filled by the d'Hondt method. Neither the Good Friday agreement nor the St Andrews agreement made specific provision for the appointment of the Justice Minister.
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