asked the Minister for Finance the Exchequer cost in the years 1988 to 1990 of the 10 per cent Civil Service arbitration award for executive officers and higher executive officers applied to the Civil Service, local authorities and health boards; and the cost in the years 1988 to 1990 of special pay awards and review body recommendations approved and accepted by the Government.
Written Answers. - Civil Service Arbitration Award Cost.
85.
The arbitration award for executive officers and higher executive officers falls to be implemented under the terms of Clause 3.2 of the 1987 Public Service Pay Agreement. This Clause states that:
"(a) 40 per cent of such increases shall be applied with effect from 1 July 1989. If, however, the Government consider that these payments would have such serious financial and budgetary consequences as to put at risk the central objectives underlying the Programme for National Recovery they shall consult with the ICTU not later than 1 May 1989, with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable solution which should include provision for reference to a third party, if necessary;
(b) payment of the balance of the increases shall be the subject of discussion not earlier than 1 May 1989, with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable solution which should include provision for reference to a third party, if necessary."
The following are the costs arising in 1989 and in 1990 (there are no costs in 1988) of 40 per cent of the executive officers/higher executive officers award in the area requested:
|
1989(£m) |
1990(£m) |
|
|
(i) Civil Service |
2.4 |
4.8 |
|
(ii) Local Authorities |
0.8 |
1.6 |
|
(iii) Health Services |
0.5 |
1.0 |
It should be noted that the local authority area is traditionally not classified as part of the Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill. Also, the Deputy's reference to health boards is taken to cover the whole of the health services i.e. the health boards, voluntary hospitals and other agencies.
The executive officers/higher executive officers increase is being pursued by several public service groups but the normal industrial relations procedures in these cases have not been concluded.
As regards the latter part of the question, it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to awards and recommendations which have been approved since the coming into operation of the current Pay Agreement. The additional Exchequer costs arising each year from these increases are as follows:
|
1988(£m) |
1989(£m) |
1990(£m) |
|
3 |
13 |
21 |
The figures for 1989 and 1990 include the costs given at (i) and (ii) above.