Freedom Central » Westminster

Top Welsh civil servants get bonuses whilst colleagues pay is frozen

Freedom Central — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:49:42 +0000

This morning’s Western Mail reports that some top civil servants in Wales have been paid bonuses of up to £7,000 while their lower-paid colleagues are having a pay freeze imposed on them.

They say that a quarter of senior civil servants earning more than around £60,000 a year have been granted performance-related bonuses. Those benefiting work not only for the Welsh Government, but for non-devolved bodies such as the DVLA in Swansea, the Office for National Statistics in Newport, the Intellectual Property Office in Newport and Companies House in Cardiff.

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “The pay and conditions of senior civil servants is a matter for the UK Government. Historically, variable payments were made to approximately 75% of Senior Civil Service members in Wales. In the current financial climate, and in line with the guidance from Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, the Welsh Government’s Senior Civil Service Remuneration Committee has reduced the budget available for pay awards by two-thirds and limited eligibility to 25% of senior civil servants based on the achievement of strict performance targets.

“Given the current financial and economic conditions, only a quarter of the senior civil servants eligible for a variable pay award will receive a payment for the last financial year. In line with guidance from the UK Government, the total budget available for these contractual payments is 3.3% of the Senior Civil Service pay bill for 2010-11.

“For the Welsh Government, this budget equates to £490,350 for 2010-11. However, the total amount paid for current Senior Civil Service staff for 2010-11 was £238,000.

Reducing the tax burden for people on low incomes – how did your MP vote?

Jeremy Townsend — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:00:26 +0000

In a move that proved beyond doubt that Labour had lost all interest in supporting working people on low incomes, Gordon Brown’s final budget as Chancellor saw the party double the tax for people earning less than £10,000, by completely scrapping the 10p tax rate.

The following MPs voted against the Liberal Democrat proposal to reverse Labour’s shocking plan (all Labour, unless stated):

Aberavon – Hywel Francis

Alyn and Deeside – Mark Tami

Bridgend – Madeleine Moon

Caernarfon – Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru)

Caerphilly – Wayne David

Cardiff North – Julie Morgan

Cardiff South and Penarth – Alun Michael

Cardiff West – Kevin Brennan

Carmarthen West and South Pembs – Nick Ainger

Clwyd South – Martyn Jones

Delyn – David Hanson

Gower – Martin Caton

Llanelli – Nia Griffith

Meirionnydd Nant Conwy – Elfyn Llywyd (Plaid Cymru)

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney – Dai Havard

Neath – Peter Hain

Newport West – Paul Flynn

Ogmore – Huw Irranca Davies

Rhondda – Chris Bryant

Swansea East – Sian James

Torfaen – Paul Murphy

Vale of Clwyd – Chris Ruane

Wrexham – Ian Lucas

Ynys Mon – Albert Owen

Helping to save post offices – how did your MP vote?

Jeremy Townsend — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:00:08 +0000

Today’s post looks at how Welsh MPs (who are standing for re-election) voted in relation to post offices.

The following MPs voted AGAINST keeping the Post Office Card Account, which would have done a great deal to help struggling post offices remain a viable business and a key public service (all Labour):

Aberavon – Hywel Francis

Alyn and Deeside – Mark Tami

Bridgend – Madeleine Moon

Caerphilly – Wayne David

Cardiff North – Julie Morgan

Cardiff South and Penarth – Alun Michael

Cardiff West – Kevin Brennan

Carmarthen West and South Pembs – Nick Ainger

Clwyd South – Martyn Jones

Cynon Valley – Ann Clwyd

Delyn – David Hanson

Gower – Martin Caton

Llanelli – Nia Griffith

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney – Dai Havard

Neath – Peter Hain

Newport West – Paul Flynn

Ogmore – Huw Irranca Davies

Rhondda – Chris Bryant

Swansea East – Sian James

Torfaen – Paul Murphy

Vale of Clwyd – Chris Ruane

Ynys Mon – Albert Owen

Supporting the Gurkhas – how did your MP vote?

Jeremy Townsend — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:02:48 +0000

If you ever use the website, TheyWorkForYou, then you will be familiar with the short voting summary they provide for each MP.

The headline votes are things like the smoking ban, ID cards and the replacing of Trident – things which have been big news in the mainstream press.

I’ve taken a further look and found some other interesting issues on which you may be interested to see how your MP voted, and I intend to start a small series of posts highlighting some of these.

Today’s post shows all those MPs who voted AGAINST allowing Gurkhas the right to settle in the UK – conincidentally, all are Labour MPs:

Aberavon – Hywel Francis

Alyn and Deeside – Mark Tami

Bridgend – Madeleine Moon

Caerphilly – Wayne David

Cardiff South and Penarth – Alun Michael

Cardiff West – Kevin Brennan

Carmarthen West and South Pembs – Nick Ainger

Cynon Valley – Ann Clwyd

Delyn – David Hanson

Llanelli – Nia Griffith

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney – Dai Havard

Neath – Peter Hain

Newport East – Jessica Morden

Ogmore – Huw Irranca Davies

Rhondda – Chris Bryant

Torfaen – Paul Murphy

Vale of Clwyd – Chris Ruane

Wrexham – Ian Lucas

Ynys Mon – Albert Owen

The black hole of Whitehall

Peter Black — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:04:49 +0000

The Welsh Affairs’ Select Committee has produced a report on the Legislative Competence Order system which correctly identifies one of the reason why it is unfit for purpose but bizarrely concludes that it can be made to work better.

The report identifies that requests from the Welsh Government for extra powers too often “disappear in the black hole of Whitehall”. They say that Whitehall departments’ sluggishness in clearing requests for additional devolution is creating long delays. They cited the plan to devolve extra responsibility for environmental policy, held up for nearly two years, and a bid to give the Assembly power to install fire sprinklers in new homes as examples of the slow progress.

In the report, MPs say: “We have identified some procedural problems, most notably long and unaccountable delays in the process of negotiation between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Whitehall department or departments that sometimes occurs before an LCO is referred to us.

“There is an unacceptable lack of transparency within the Whitehall clearance process. The Wales Office should provide this committee with a monthly update on the progress of all proposed LCOs together with an explanation of any delays.”

After numerous complaints about the jargon used in some LCOs, the MPs also note that, “it should not be beyond the reach of language to provide in addition a simple statement of what the LCO will enable the National Assembly for Wales to do”.

They also suggest fast-tracking the process for less controversial LCOs, and say there needs to be a comprehensive “Welsh statute book”, available on-line, so the public can access what is in an increasingly distinct body of Welsh law

However, the Peter Hain’s suggestion that the process is growing in “strength, effectiveness and transparency” is a classic piece of misdirection. He and the Committee are most probably right that the Whitehall bureaucracy can be trimmed back, in fact it will need to be if the latest LCOs on Housing and Transport are to get approval before Parliament rises for the General Election. However, that does not account for the time and money wasted in Cardiff Bay and Westminster drawing up and scrutinising these orders without any concrete benefit for the people of Wales, in terms of changes to the quality of their lives, coming out of the other end.

In addition to that of course is the sheer impracticality of elected politicians in the Welsh Assembly having to implement their manifesto pledges when there is a near-two year delay built into every legislative proposal, not to mention having to ask MPs for permission to deliver a democratically-endorsed programme for government. The process remains unfit for purpose and is far from the success story that some MPs suggest.

Verdict on devolution

Freedom Central — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:22:00 +0000

The House of Commons Justice Committee has produced its report on Devolution: a decade on and has come to some interesting conclusions. The three-party Committee analysed the “English Question” and the possible answers to it, pointing out that hardly anyone among its witnesses was content with no change, but that there is no consensus on what the changes should be. Here are a few from the press release:

On Wales the Committee agree that that “there is a legitimate role for Westminster in scrutinizing draft Legislative Consent Orders to check whether they are in order, what their scope is, whether the drafting is clear and precise and whether the legislative competence can or should be devolved under the terms of the Act.

However, the process in Whitehall is less clear and we are also concerned about the lack of transparency of the role of the Secretary of State in determining whether or not he would lay a draft Order before Parliament. We recommend that the Secretary of State produce a protocol outlining the principles that would inform such a decision, and the maximum timescales within which a decision should be made”.

On relationships between Scotland, Wales and Whitehall the Committee agree that “while the awareness of devolution in Whitehall has improved since … 1999, there is no doubt that there is still a considerable way to go in achieving consistent and effective practices in dealing with devolution issues across all Whitehall departments. This should not only involve a full and comprehensive understanding of the policy areas that have been devolved to Scotland and Wales, but also full appreciation and consultation so that Welsh and Scottish interests are taken into account in policy making in reserved or non-devolved areas which will have an impact on the UK as a whole”.

On the Secretaries of State the Committee note that “many have questioned whether it is justified for those parts of the United Kingdom which have devolved government, and only those parts, to have individual Secretaries of State in the Cabinet. As relationships between the administrations mature, the role of the Secretary of State for Scotland has clearly decreased, and the question of the continued separate existence of that office must be raised. However, the Government of Wales Act 2006 gave the Secretary of State for Wales a role in legislating for Wales. This process is still relatively new and bedding down, and any proposals for fundamental change to the role of the Secretary of State would have to take this into consideration”.

“Nevertheless, the fact that the Scottish and Welsh Secretaries are now “part time”, combining the post with UK departmental responsibilities, illustrates that the reality of change has been accepted, and it is significant that many of the arguments in favour of retaining the positions are essentially political, focusing on either perceived advantages in a territory of having a “champion” in the Cabinet, or the potential political disadvantages of abolishing the position. It is clear that the role of the territorial Secretaries of State has changed beyond recognition and that it is not likely to remain central to the functioning of devolved government or to seem consistent with the logic of devolution”.

The Committee conclude that the Barnett Formula is ”no longer fit for purpose and that reform is overdue. We urge the Government to publish its position as a matter of some urgency and to proceed to devise a new formula which is needs based, takes into account regional disparities in England as well as in Scotland and Wales, is transparent and is sufficiently robust to enable long-term planning”

Welsh language cock-up over magistrates’ IT costs extra £4M

Freedom Central — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:54:00 +0000

The Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, Jenny Willott has released information showing that the Ministry of Justice is having to spend an extra £4 million upgrading the massively over-budget and hugely delayed ‘Libra’ case management computer system for Magistrates’ Courts so that it can issue court summonses in Welsh as well as English.

The ‘Libra’ project began in 1998 and was designed to create a more efficient standardised national system for Magistrates’ Courts. However, a Parliamentary Question from Jenny revealed that the system only came online in December 2008 at a cost of £444m – 7.5 years late and £260m over budget.

Further questions from Jenny revealed that the system does not include a bi-lingual version for issuing court summonses in Welsh, forcing Welsh speakers to apply specially for Welsh translations. A bi-lingual version of Libra won’t be available until September 2009 at a further cost of £4m.

Jenny said: “It beggars belief that the Government simply forgot to include the Welsh language in the contract.

“How can Labour claim to be representing the needs of everyone in Wales when such a basic requirement for Welsh speakers goes unnoticed for an entire decade?

“Fixing this problem is going to add further to the taxpayers’ bill for this shambolic IT project and will leave Welsh speakers having to ask for special translations until September.

“But given that the Ministry of Justice hasn’t even finalised the contracts for the bi-lingual upgrade, what confidence can we have that this won’t be subject to further cost overruns and massive delays?

“The Libra project is renowned for being one of the government’s worst run IT projects ever. It is more than seven years late and has cost more than double what it was supposed to.

“This fundamental and most basic failure seriously damages Labour’s proclaimed commitment to the Welsh language. I wonder if this is the only Welsh language skeleton in the Government’s closet.”

Four Jobseekers For Every Vacancy in Wales

Freedom Central — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:26:00 +0000

The number of people on Jobseekers Allowance in Wales is four times higher than the number of jobs available, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have revealed.

The figures, revealed through Parliamentary Questions, also show that: · There are 6 Welsh constituencies in which Jobseekers outnumber vacancies by more than 10 to 1.
· There are 16 Welsh constituencies in which Jobseekers outnumber vacancies by more than 5 to 1 – 14 of which have Labour MPs

Commenting, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said: “These figures underline just how badly Wales is being hit by the unemployment crisis.

“Gordon Brown can talk about there being half a million vacancies all he wants, but if they aren’t being advertised and they’re not in the areas they’re needed, they aren’t going to be much help.

“Some parts of Wales are looking increasingly desperate with over 10 Jobseekers for each vacancy.

“Rather than provide help when it is needed, ministers have closed almost 50 Jobcentres across Wales over the last five years alone.

“We need to ensure that Jobcentres are easily accessible for the public and that they offer access to all the jobs available.”

This research backs up the conclusions reached by Peter Black on his blog earlier this week.

More secrecy from the House of Commons

Freedom Central — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:32:00 +0000

The Daily Telegraph reports that the House of Commons Speaker has courted further controversy by signing an order that prevents the publication of details of trips abroad made by MPs as guests of the British Council, a taxpayer-funded body:

Since February 2007, 12 MPs have travelled overseas with the British Council to destinations including Thailand, India and Malawi, often at a cost of thousands of pounds.

MPs must normally declare any hospitality they receive from outside organisations, and the British Council does not appear on a list of bodies whose gifts are exempt from the requirement.

When The Sunday Telegraph used the Freedom of Information Act to ask the Commons authorities why the trips were not being declared, Mr Martin stepped in and took the highly unusual step of signing a special certificate preventing the release of any information about how the decision was reached.

The document, headed ‘The Certificate’, cites Parliamentary privilege as the reason to impose secrecy. It even halts any further investigation by Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, who would normally have the power to intervene.

The Speaker’s move to block information that campaigners claim should be in the public domain has been condemned by MPs as well as civil liberty advocates.

In recent months, Mr Martin has been heavily criticised for trying to suppress details about MPs’ expenses and for trying to exempt aspects of their work from the Freedom of Information Act.

It is also not the first time that he has used the controversial certificate. In 2006, Mr Martin issued a certificate banning the release of a list of MPs’ staff under Freedom of Information laws.

Trying to get details of MPs expenses out of the Commons’ authorities has been like trying to get blood from stone. It is a direct contrast to the opennesss and transparency of the National Assembly for Wales.

The week ahead

Freedom Central — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:58:00 +0000

MONDAY

Jenny Randerson is visiting the Open University in Cardiff.
Mike German in London for CPA conference on International Migration and Human Trafficking.
Kirsty Williams’ surgery in Ystradgynlais Library
Eleanor Burnham on video link Question Time with Yale College.

TUESDAY

Meeting of Equal Opportunities Committee
First Minister’s Questions
Government statements on Tourism, 21st Century Schools, and Welsh LCO
Debate on the proposed Local Government Measure.

Eleanor Burnham and Mick Bates on Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty.
Mick Bates on Cross Party Group on Autism
Kirsty Williams meeting “Engineers Make it Happen” in the Assembly.

Westminster Hall Private Member’s debate: Welsh-language text on identity cards – Nia Griffith (Lab, Llanelli)
Welsh Affairs Select Committee Inquiry: The provision of cross-border public services for Wales: transport – evidence session (Birmingham Airport; Liverpool Airport; Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport)

WEDNESDAY

World Cancer Day – Campaign running by member organisations in over 80 countries. A wide range of educational activities and fundraising events take place worldwide.

Health and Social Services Questions
Economy and Transport Questions
Motion to annul the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2008
Debate on the Children and Young People Committee’s Report into Child Poverty in Wales: Eradication through Education
Conservative debate on FE funding cuts.
Welsh Liberal Democrat debate on Personal Debt.
Short Debate on “Welsh Second Language: Vision; Tokenism and Failure?”

Kirsty Williams in mock EU election at Brynmawr Comprehensive.
Mick Bates meeting FUW in Flintshire

THURSDAY

Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee
Rural Development Sub-Committee

Kirsty Williams speaking at IWA branch dinner in Carmarthen.
Rossett by-election, Wrexham

FRIDAY

Peter Black’s surgery in Morriston Library, Swansea.
Kirsty Williams’ surgery in Llandrindod Wells and Presteigne Memorial Hall
Mick Bates visiting Lake Vyrnwy with Ruth Lovell of RSPB.
Eleanor Burnham, opening Ty’n Dwr Outdoor Centre in Llangollen

SATURDAY

Kirsty Williams at Brecknock YFC Drama Festival
Eleanor Burnham’s surgery at Marford Community Centre.