Allister Shines Spotlight on SPADs
19 August 2011
TUV Leader Jim Allister MLA has sought further clarification from Finance Minister Sammy Wilson regarding the salary afforded to Special Advisors.
Commenting on the revelations that Special Advisors are eligible to claim a salary up to £90,000 Jim Allister MLA stated:
“The world of Stormont SPADs remains incredibly secretive. I have been able to shine some limited light into the darkest recesses of that world however there remain many more secrets that must be unearthed.
"We do know they are exempt from security clearance - hence convicted murderers are eligible - but, unlike GB, the Stormont regime will not reveal how much each actually earns. Now, when it comes to pay increases they seem to be above the freeze which is supposed to apply across the public service. Given that hitherto DFP has contended that their pay is linked to that of senior civil servants a question which now arises is whether top civil servants are also getting an increase to their salary bands, while the lower ranks bear the full brunt of the freeze?This is one of the issues I have raised in a further letter to the DFP Minister.
As for the supposed 'Review', following the McArdle appointment, has that too been buried in the surreal SPAD world at Stormont? I have established by FOI that McArdle is one of the Special Advisers in Band B and, therefore, eligible for a salary of up to £90,000 pa. What a scandal!”
*Please find below a copy of the letter sent from Jim Allister MLA to the Finance Minister relating to Special Advisers’ remuneration.
Dear Minister,
Re: Special Advisers
Arising from the following statement by a DFP spokesman on or about 12th August 2011 there are a number of matters on which I seek clarification.
"There is no annual pay progression in respect of Special Advisers’ remuneration over the period 1 April 2010- 31 March 2012, consistent with the freeze on any base pay award in respect of Senior Civil Service remuneration over this period. On 18 July the salary bands, effective from 1 April 2011 were set as follows – Pay Band A £36,320-£51,775 and Pay Band B £57,300- £90,000. Decisions on appointments and contracts are a matter for individual departments and are governed by Schedule 3 of the Contract for Appointment of Special Advisers. "
1. Was the above decision approved at ministerial level, if not, why not and, if not, when did you first become aware of the decision and do you approve of it?
2. If you didn’t take the decision, who did?
3. Given that the Guidance issued by DFP, presumably with your approval, earlier this year expressly set the former bands through to 31 March 2012, why has Band B, and at whose behest, been suddenly increased by a whopping £10,000, with same backdated to 1 April 2011?
4. Up to what grade within DFP (and/or any other department) was there an input into the decision?
5. When last were the salary bands altered a) for Special Advisers and b) for Senior Civil Servants?
6. Have the salary bands for Senior Civil Servants also been altered, if so in what respect and when?
7. How many Special Advisers are paid within Band B and in consequence of the increase in the upper limit of Band B how many are due an increase in salary?
8. What now is the total cost to the public purse of a) salaries, b) NIC, and c) pension contributions in respect of Special Advisers?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
James H Allister MLA
