North's senior civil servants will not get bonus this year

THE NORTH’S Minister for Finance has decided that senior civil servants will not receive any bonuses this year.

Sammy Wilson has ruled that senior civil service pay bands will also be frozen at 2008 levels, and there will be no additional cost of living increases at the bottom or top ends.

It means that for the first time senior civil servants in Northern Ireland will not receive the same pay awards made to their counterparts in other parts of the UK.

Instead the top staff in the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland civil service will get a 3.5 per cent overall cost increase.

Mr Wilson’s decision will only affect 220 of the most senior public executives in the North, but he has warned that he intends to examine the bonus payments in the wider public sector at a later date.

According to figures provided by the Department of Finance, the total pay bill for Northern Ireland’s senior civil servants in 2008/09 came to £15 million.

The department has also disclosed that these same civil servants received a total of £1.2 million in “non-consolidated bonus payments”.

Mr Wilson said he was very aware there had been a lot of public debate and controversy in Northern Ireland over senior civil service pay.

As a result of this, the Minister for Finance said he had decided to award what he described as a “very fair package” but one which would not include additional bonus payments.

It is a move which will be applauded in the North by the public but it marks a significant departure for a Minister for Finance to trim civil service pay awards.

Mr Wilson said his decision, which will affect all permanent secretaries, deputy secretaries and assistant secretaries, was the right call in the current climate.

“In light of the significant pressures on public finances and the very real difficulties facing the wider economy, I believe it would not be appropriate to include bonus payments in this year’s pay award to senior civil servants.

“As a result, the package which I have decided will cost £1.1 million less than if the Northern Ireland civil service had applied the pay award made to senior civil servants in Great Britain. This is a considerable saving to the taxpayer.”

Mr Wilson said the overall cost increase of 3.5 per cent was a gesture which rewarded senior civil servants for the “vital work they do in supporting ministers” and in delivering public services.

But he also acknowledged that many of the North’s top government executives, possibly including his own aides, would be disappointed by his decision.

“I would want to emphasise that it does not mean that I do not value their commitment and dedication. Rather it reflects the very difficult economic climate we find ourselves in where we must all make sacrifices for the greater good.”