Finance Minister sets out to reassure Civil Service Pensions staff of no redundancies

Finance Minister Simon Hamilton MLA has set out to reassure staff working in Civil Service Pensions Branch in Londonderry that no one will be made redundant as plans progress to replace the pension administration and payment systems.

The Minister was speaking during an Adjournment Debate in the Assembly this evening on public sector jobs in the North West.

Simon Hamilton said: “I am acutely aware that staff in Civil Service Pensions Branch in Waterside House, Londonderry are concerned about job security in light of the plan to replace the pension administration and payment systems. Not least because their fears have been whipped up by ill-informed public comment.

“The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme in Northern Ireland is the main pension scheme for all Northern Ireland civil servants and a number of other bodies. As of March 2013, there were 34,000 active members, 27,000 pensioner members and 8,500 deferred members of this scheme.”

Setting the context for the need of a replacement IT system the Minister continued:“The contracts in respect of the two current computer systems used to perform member administration and pensioner payroll functions are coming to an end and therefore must be replaced.

“The main options to be considered include both a system solution to be operated by civil servants or a managed service, i.e. an outsourced solution. No decision on the preferred option has yet been made. The Business Case is still being developed and has a number of Departmental approval stages to complete. My officials have consulted and will continue to consult with Trade Union Side and will keep staff up to date with developments as the project progresses.

“Civil Service Pensions Branch will continue to exist and be staffed by civil servants as there are a number of other key functions to delivery such as scheme management, policy and legislation and finance. However, whichever option is approved, there will be a reduction in staff required. Any surplus staff will be managed in line with documented NICS procedures, including natural wastage and redeployment. Let me reiterate no one will be made redundant contrary to the public statements to this effect attributed to NIPSA.”

Commenting on public service pension reform the Minister added: “Pension reform has an impact on the need for a new solution to be found. It is not the main driver for change, but in order to implement the new pension scheme for civil servants from 1 April 2015the new solution must be in place by that date.

“HM Treasury have made clear that we need to press ahead with the reforms of public service pensions. Failure to do this for the main schemes is estimated at over £300m for each year’s delay.”

Concluding Simon Hamilton said: “I want to recognise the work that the staff in Civil Service Pensions Branch do. I regret that some have sought to prey on their fears for their own ends. Screaming publicly that 80 jobs will be lost when nothing could be further from the truth does those staff no service whatsoever.”

Foster and Hamilton announce agri-food loan scheme

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Finance Minister Simon Hamilton, MLA have announced today that a new Agri-Food Loan Scheme will be open for business in November. 

The Scheme will be delivered jointly with a number of Northern Ireland’s banks. It will help local food producers, who form part of an integrated supply chain, to access the finance they would need to invest in the farm buildings necessary to increase supply of the primary produce for processing.

Arlene Foster said: “Over recent months, several major retailers have decided to sell only UK sourced meat products. This presents major opportunities for the local Agri-Food industry and that is why we have been working with the banks to explore the potential for an Agri-Food Loan Scheme which would enable businesses to take advantage of the opportunities that exist.”

Simon Hamilton said: “The scheme we have announced today will see the Northern Ireland Executive, working proactively with a number of our banks, to provide significant finance in the form of loans to local food producers who form part of an integrated supply chain. Discussions with the banks have been very positive and highly constructive, and we are pleased to announce that we have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding, setting out our joint commitment to deliver the Scheme.”

The first phase of the Scheme will be open to broiler producers in Northern Ireland. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Department of Finance and Personnel and Invest Northern Ireland are also working with the banks to roll out subsequent phases of the scheme to other Agri-Food sectors over the coming months.

Commenting on the roll out Simon Hamilton continued: “The Agri-food Loan Scheme will roll out on a phased basis and the first phase of the Scheme will open for applications next month. This first phase will be open to broiler producers and we are already working to develop subsequent phases of the scheme in respect of, pig meat, egg production, red meat and dairy.”

Arlene Foster added: “Difficulty in accessing finance was one of the issues identified in ‘Going for Growth’, the Strategic Action Plan developed by the industry led Agri-Food Strategy Board.

“Our co-operation with the banks demonstrates that we are not only listening to, but acting on, the concerns of industry. It is also an example that the Executive is working together to provide support for local businesses. 

“We have worked hard to ensure that this Scheme is as straightforward as possible for producers – essentially we have created a one-stop shop. Processes within the Banks and Invest NI will be coordinated to ensure that applicants will only be required to submit one application for finance using the normal channels within the Banks.”

Simon Hamilton concluded: “Initiatives such as this are crucial as we, in partnership with our local banks, work to create a better environment for business and as we strive to ensure that local companies can make the most of opportunities for growth that arise.

“£10 million has been allocated to Invest Northern Ireland to facilitate the first phase of the Scheme this year, and the Executive has agreed to commit further funds to the Scheme should there be significant demand.”

More information...

1. Discussions have been taking place with the banks in respect of an Agri-Food Loan Scheme aimed at the Agri-Food industry. The first phase of the Scheme will be open to broiler producers and discussions are ongoing with the banks to roll the scheme out to the pig meat, egg producers, red meat and dairy sectors.

2. The Scheme will operate for a limited time only.

3. The Scheme will be delivered jointly by the banks and Invest NI. Processes within the Banks and Invest NI will be coordinated to ensure that applicants will only be required to submit one application for finance using the normal channels within the Banks. Finance will be provided by the Northern Ireland Executive by means of loans, which will be provided on commercial terms and these loans will be subordinated to bank debt. The precise application of the scheme may be adapted as it is rolled out to other sectors and this will be determined following further negotiation with the banks and those sectors.

4. Participating banks include Bank of Ireland, Barclays Bank, Danske Bank, First Trust Bank, HSBC, Santander and Ulster Bank.

5. Going for Growth can be accessed on the Agrifood Strategy Board website.