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Armed Forces Pay Review Body: Aircrew Retention
Lord Peston asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to review aircrew retention, following the publication of the 2001 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the chairman's supplementary letter, published on 9 February 2001. [HL1210]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Ministry of Defence is conducting a Comprehensive Review of Aircrew Retention to examine the reasons why aircrew leave the Services. A study team including representatives from the three Services, HM Treasury and external consultancy will be reviewing our overall need for aircrew against today's employment patterns, their career structures, the flying training system, the current structure of additional flying pay and the commercial airlines' recruitment policies and financial packages. This work has now started and we expect to be able to report the outcome to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body in autumn this year.
Single Currency and Exchange Rate Mechanism
Lord Shore of Stepney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, should the United Kingdom wish to join the Single Currency, it would need to rejoin
the Exchange Rate Mechanism, as laid down in the third of the four criteria in Article 121 of the European Treaty; and, if not, what alternative requirements for exchange rate stability have been indicated. [HL1049]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As my honourable Friend the Economic Secretary made clear at the Treasury Select Commitee meeting on 11 July 2000, the Government have no intention of rejoining the Exchange Rate Mechanism.
Lawyer Numbers
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the number of barristers and solicitors in independent practice in England and Wales is excessive; and if so, why.[HL1006]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): In a free society, the overall number of lawyers is a matter for the market to determine, not the Government. However, the Government, when purchasing services itself, is intent on achieving best value for money for the taxpayer. Lawyers are vital in ensuring access to justice for citizens, and especially the most needy in our society, and in underpinning a thriving economy. In addition, the legal services sector contributed 1.5 per cent to the Gross National Product and generated £1.5 billion in foreign earnings, thus adding to the economic prosperity of the country.
Tribunal Chairmen: Salaries
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the current scales of remuneration for the chairmen of statutory tribunals in England and Wales; and what are the criteria on which the scales are based.[HL1007]
The Lord Chancellor : The current salary levels, and those which will apply with effect from 1 April 2001, for those full time tribunal chairmen in England and Wales who fall within the remit of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) are as follows:
| Office | Salary wef 1 April 2000 (£) | Salary wef 1 April 2001 (£) |
| Social Security Commissioners | 95,873 | 99,420 |
| Vice-Presidents, Immigration Appeal Tribunal | 95,873 | 99,420 |
| Chairmen, VAT and Duties Tribunal | 92,253 | 95,666 |
| Member, Lands Tribunal | 92,253 | 95,666 |
| Special Commissioners for Income Tax | 92,253 | 95,666 |
| Chairmen, Appeal Service | 76,921 | 79,767 |
| Chairmen, Employment Tribunals | 76,921 | 79,767 |
| Immigration Adjudicators | 76,921 | 79,767 |
| President, Pensions Appeal Tribunals | 76,921 | 79,767 |
Those office-holders in SSRB Group 7 (i.e. with a current salary of £76,921) who work in London also
receive additional allowances totalling £4,000. Different rates apply to those who hold higher level offices (e.g. regional chairmen of the Appeal Service, regional chairmen of employment tribunals, etc). Salary levels are determined in the light of the recommendations made by the SSRB, which takes account of all the factors which it considers to be relevant for this purpose. The current and new fee levels for the part-time tribunal chairmen for whom I have administrative responsibility are as follows:| Office | Daily fee wef 1 April 2000 (£) | Daily fee wef 1 April 2001 (£) |
| Chairman, Immigration Appeal Tribunal | 436 | 452 |
| Deputy Social Security Commissioner | 436 | 452 |
| Chairman, Banking Appeals Tribunal | 419 | 435 |
| Chairman, VAT and Duties Tribunal | 419 | 435 |
| Chairman, Financial Services and Markets Tribunal | -- | 435 |
| Deputy Member Lands Tribunal | 419 | 435 |
| Deputy Special Commissioner for Income Tax | 419 | 435 |
| Chairman and members, Pensions Appeal Tribunal | 339 | 352 |
| Chairman Transport Tribunal | 350 | 363 |
| Immigration Adjudicator | 350 | 363 |
| Legal Member, Immigration Services Tribunal | -- | 435 |
These figures are derived from the actual or imputed equivalent full-time salary levels. The fees of other part-time tribunal chairmen are determined, in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions, by the relevant Minister and are not collated centrally.