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Executive Agencies

Volume 201: debated on Monday 16 December 1991

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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related element, in each case where appointments from the private sector have been made at grade 7 or above in respect of each of the executive agencies in his Department.

Excluding chief executive posts, appointments from the private sector at grade 7 or above have only been made in two of the eight agencies in my Department to date. The table shows the standard civil service rate for the grades specified including discretionary pay for performance.

AgencyGradeNumbers employed from private sector1991–92 maximum salary including performance element (£)
Meteorological Office152 1st post39,402–52,122
2nd post39,402–46,724
7127,819–33,175
Defence Research Agency7127,819–33,175
1 The difference between the two grade 5 maxima relates to the number of range points and the performance element applicable in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last annual report was published and when the next one is due for each of the executive agencies in his Department.

The Meteorological Office and the Hydrographic Office were the first two agencies to be established in April 1990. Their reports for 1990–91 were published in July 1991. Their next annual reports, together with the first annual report for the other six agencies in my Department, are due to be published in July 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many staff were in post on the date that each of the executive agencies in his Department were established as executive agencies; and how many staff are in post now in each case;(2) if he will list those new facilities for staff, including nurseries and health care schemes, which have been introduced since the establishment of each of the executive agencies in his Department;(3) how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of each of the executive agencies in his Department; and whether the cost was borne by the parent Department or the new agency.

This is a matter for the chief executives of the executive agencies and defence support agencies. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executive, including performance-related elements and the length of time of the chief executive's contract for each of the executive agencies in his Department.

Three chief executive appointments in MOD have been made following open competition. The details of these are shown in table 1. Chief executive positions in the five other MOD "next steps" agencies were filled by the existing head of the organisation. The details are shown in table 2.

Table 1
Chief executive appointed following open competition
AgencyPeriod of contractSalary £
Defence research agency3 years140,000
Meteorological office5 years165,000
Service children's schools (north west Europe3 years255,417
1 New chief executive appointed with effect from 2 January 1992. Within standard civil service range for grade 2, plus discretionary performance bonus of 15 per cent, of salary.
2 Standard civil service rate for grade 4 which includes discretionary payments for performance. This post also attracts London weighting and foreign cost of living allowances.
Table 2
Chief executive posts filled by existing head of organisation without competition
AgencyGrade or service rankSalary £
Hydrographic officeRear Admiral52,855
Military survey DSAMajor General52,855
Maintenance group RAF support commandAir Vice Marshal52,855
Chemical and biological defence establishmentGrade 3 civil servant157,000
Directorate General defence accountsGrade 4 civil servant247,921

1 Standing civil service rate for grade 3 which includes discretionary payments for performance.

2 Standard civil service rate for grade 4 which includes performance related elements.