Money, Money, Money
I wrote an opinion piece for the Herald newspaper earlier this month, but I didn't receive a penny piece for my efforts.
I never sought or expected any payment for writing my article about the Politics of Equal Pay - see post dated 2 August 2013: 'Politics of Equal Pay'.
My expectations might have been different were I still operating as a 'freelance writer' which was the case ten years or more ago, but things have moved on and anything I have to say to the media nowadays - is on an unpaid basis.
The same was true when I was still acting as a full-time union official, latterly as Unison's Head of Local Government in Scotland - I didn't demand some extra fee for simply doing my job and speaking up for the members.
Yet money seems to get in the way of lots of activities these days - from academics like Dr Elliot Bulmer asking for a fee to write an article on Scottish Independence from not just one but two sources - the Herald newspaper (which turned down his request) and the Yes Scotland campaign (which did not and paid him a nominal fee of £100).
But this practice is widespread - everywhere you look people are getting paid, sometimes very handsomely for doing things that you might imagine should be done on a voluntary basis - and without money changing hands.
Take the Employee Directors in Scotland's NHS who receive £8,000 a year for representing the interests of the workforce - why do they need or expect an additional payment when they get paid time off to perform this role.
The House of Lords which is full of former politicians who have retired on gold-plated public pensions - pays its members a £300 daily attendance fee which is tax free for goodness sake, but why?
I would have thought that people who have done so well out of the public purse for many years, as MPs and public servants for example, ought to be prepared to give something back - in return only for their out of pocket expenses.
Serving MPs are at it as well of course - take Diane Abbot, for example, the London Labour MP who recently charged £1,750 for making a 50 minute speech to students at the University of Birmingham.
Why does she feel the need to demand an extra payment for doing what most people would regard as part of her 'day job' as an MP - and a member of the Labour Party's opposition front bench?
I don't know the answer to that question, but to me it's quite central to any debate about public service values.
Back in July 2013 I wrote about public service values and the fact that that these days the notion of 'giving something back' seems to be getting turned on its head - to read 'I'll give something back as long as I get handsomely rewarded' for my efforts.
Even in the National Health Service (NHS) - where you might be inclined to expect a different approach.
So, I asked the Scottish Government to confirm the position about payments to NHS Employee Directors and here's what the Government had to say in response to my FOI request:
1 All 22 Health Boards have an Employee Director.
Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I find it hard to accept that local trade union reps should require to be paid extra - over and above their normal pay - for looking after the interests of their members and the wider workforce.
Now this never used to be the case - when I was a union rep in the NHS before becoming a full-time NUPE official - I was just paid what I was paid, for the hours that I worked - I didn't expect to receive additional 'dosh' for the extra union work I did in my own time.
And, of course, I got time off with pay to do most things such as representing union members or attending various meetings - though there were always other issues that took up my own time, but that's just the way it was - no one expected to get paid extra for doing what amounted to voluntary work.
But that's not how things work these days - because under a previous Labour-led Coalition Government in the Scottish Parliament a new system was introduced to have Employee Directors on health boards and other NHS bodies.
A good thing too, if you ask me - yet for some reason these individuals get paid a significant sum of money - which I don't really agree with because for the most part they must be getting paid time off work to carry out their duties.
Here's a previous post on the subject and when I get a minute - I'm going to ask an FOI question of the Scottish Government.
Spending Public Money (28 October 2011)
As promised, here is the full response from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - which I referred to in a previous post dated 25 October 2011.
Now unless I have misunderstood something - the health board is saying that three employees are paid an extra £8,008 a year - for acting as members of NHS GGC.
One as an Employee Director and two others - appointed by Scottish Ministers as Non-Executive Members of the Board.
So that makes £8,008 x 3 = £24,024 and added up across the whole of Scotland - that amounts to what exactly?
I think we should be told.
I'm all in favour of having employee directors on the 'board' - but what I don't understand is why they get paid any extra - if they are allowed time-off with pay to do the job.
To my mind that's an inappropriate way to use public money.
Dear Mr Irvine
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
Thank you for your request received on 27 July 2011, for information as described in your email below. I am now able to provide a response on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as follows:
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
The current Employee Director of Greater Glasgow Health Board (commonly known as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) is Mr Donald Sime. I have included a link to the Board Members section of our website which gives a brief profile of all Board Members, including Mr Sime.
Link to Board Members section:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s108
Link to profile for Mr Donald Sime:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_34
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
Mr Sime is entitled to the same level of remuneration and expenses payable to other board members appointed in a personal capacity by Scottish Ministers, in addition to his salary as an employee. The level of remuneration that Mr Sime currently receives for being Employee Director is £8,008.00pa.
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
As shown in the Board members section of NHSGGC's website, Mr Sime's substantive post is that of Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Microbiology.
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
Mr Sime carries out his Employee Director duties on a full-time basis (37.5 hours per week).
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
The Employee Director is a stakeholder member of the Board from the joint trade unions of the Area Partnership Forum and is therefore required to be a member of one of those trade unions. Mr Sime is a member of Unite the Union.
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
The Employee Director is appointed following nomination and vote by the membership of the Area Partnership Forum. The appointment as a non-Executive member of the NHS Board as Employee Director is then subject to Ministerial approval.
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
There are no other Directors who are employees of the Health Board and who receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors. There are two non-executive Members of the Board who are employees of NHSGGC and who receive remuneration in addition to their substantive posts for being non-Executive Members as appointed by Scottish Ministers. These are Patricia Spencer, Chair of the Area Clinical Forum, and Cllr Joseph McIlwee. Profiles for Mrs Spencer and Cllr McIlwee can be found in the Board Members section of our website.
Link to profile for Mrs Patricia Spencer:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_58
Link to profile for Cllr Joseph McIlwee:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_45
I hope that this information is helpful. If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you have a right to request a review of this decision within 40 working days of receiving this response. The procedure for consideration of a review is detailed in the attached note. The note also describes your right to pursue the matter with the Scottish Information Commissioner if, following a request for review, you remain dissatisfied with the decision of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. If following appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner you still remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have a right of appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law against the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner.
If you wish us to review this decision, please complete the form enclosed and return it to the Head of Board Administration, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Corporate HQ, JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH.
Should you require any clarification about this response or the right to request a review please contact me at the details below.
Yours sincerely
Alison Flynn
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
From: markirvine@compuserve.com [mailto:markirvine@compuserve.com]
To: Calderwood, Robert
Subject: FOISA Request
27 July 2011
Robert Calderwood
Chief Executive
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board
BY E-MAIL
Dear Mr Calderwood
FOISA Request
I would like to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002.
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
I look forward to your reply and would be grateful if you could respond to me by e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
Public Service Values (16 August 2013)
Back in July 2013 I wrote about public service values and the fact that that these days the notion of 'giving something back' seems to be getting turned on its head - to read 'I'll give something back as long as I get handsomely rewarded' for my efforts.
Even in the National Health Service (NHS) - where you might be inclined to expect a different approach.
So, I asked the Scottish Government to confirm the position about payments to NHS Employee Directors and here's what the Government had to say in response to my FOI request:
1 All 22 Health Boards have an Employee Director.
2 As a Board member, all Employee directors are entitled to be remunerated as Non-Executive Directors. The current rate of payment for Non-Executive Directors is £8008 per year.
3 Each Employee Directors is expected to act within their capacity as a Non-Executive Director of a Health Board. This role is carried out in addition to their substantive role. They are therefore remunerated at the same rate as other Non-Executive Director.
The upshot is that £176,176 is spent every year on Employee Directors even though the individuals concerned are given time-off with pay to carry out their duties - not a huge sum of money in the scheme of things, but if you ask me it's a step backwards that people are paid £8,088 to speak up for the interest of the workforce.
And I don't buy for a minute this baloney about the role of Employee Directors being especially onerous - because that's exactly what Glasgow City Council argued in an attempt to justify ridiculous top-up payments to Glasgow councillors who sat on arm's length like Cordia and City Building - until the Scottish Government put a stop to the practice.
Which begs the question - if such payments are regarded as unnecessary and unjustified in local government, then why are they still being made in the NHS?
The upshot is that £176,176 is spent every year on Employee Directors even though the individuals concerned are given time-off with pay to carry out their duties - not a huge sum of money in the scheme of things, but if you ask me it's a step backwards that people are paid £8,088 to speak up for the interest of the workforce.
And I don't buy for a minute this baloney about the role of Employee Directors being especially onerous - because that's exactly what Glasgow City Council argued in an attempt to justify ridiculous top-up payments to Glasgow councillors who sat on arm's length like Cordia and City Building - until the Scottish Government put a stop to the practice.
Which begs the question - if such payments are regarded as unnecessary and unjustified in local government, then why are they still being made in the NHS?
Public Service Values (4 July 2013)
Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I find it hard to accept that local trade union reps should require to be paid extra - over and above their normal pay - for looking after the interests of their members and the wider workforce.
Now this never used to be the case - when I was a union rep in the NHS before becoming a full-time NUPE official - I was just paid what I was paid, for the hours that I worked - I didn't expect to receive additional 'dosh' for the extra union work I did in my own time.
And, of course, I got time off with pay to do most things such as representing union members or attending various meetings - though there were always other issues that took up my own time, but that's just the way it was - no one expected to get paid extra for doing what amounted to voluntary work.
But that's not how things work these days - because under a previous Labour-led Coalition Government in the Scottish Parliament a new system was introduced to have Employee Directors on health boards and other NHS bodies.
A good thing too, if you ask me - yet for some reason these individuals get paid a significant sum of money - which I don't really agree with because for the most part they must be getting paid time off work to carry out their duties.
Here's a previous post on the subject and when I get a minute - I'm going to ask an FOI question of the Scottish Government.
Spending Public Money (28 October 2011)
As promised, here is the full response from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - which I referred to in a previous post dated 25 October 2011.
Now unless I have misunderstood something - the health board is saying that three employees are paid an extra £8,008 a year - for acting as members of NHS GGC.
One as an Employee Director and two others - appointed by Scottish Ministers as Non-Executive Members of the Board.
So that makes £8,008 x 3 = £24,024 and added up across the whole of Scotland - that amounts to what exactly?
I think we should be told.
I'm all in favour of having employee directors on the 'board' - but what I don't understand is why they get paid any extra - if they are allowed time-off with pay to do the job.
To my mind that's an inappropriate way to use public money.
Dear Mr Irvine
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
Thank you for your request received on 27 July 2011, for information as described in your email below. I am now able to provide a response on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as follows:
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
The current Employee Director of Greater Glasgow Health Board (commonly known as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) is Mr Donald Sime. I have included a link to the Board Members section of our website which gives a brief profile of all Board Members, including Mr Sime.
Link to Board Members section:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s108
Link to profile for Mr Donald Sime:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_34
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
Mr Sime is entitled to the same level of remuneration and expenses payable to other board members appointed in a personal capacity by Scottish Ministers, in addition to his salary as an employee. The level of remuneration that Mr Sime currently receives for being Employee Director is £8,008.00pa.
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
As shown in the Board members section of NHSGGC's website, Mr Sime's substantive post is that of Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Microbiology.
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
Mr Sime carries out his Employee Director duties on a full-time basis (37.5 hours per week).
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
The Employee Director is a stakeholder member of the Board from the joint trade unions of the Area Partnership Forum and is therefore required to be a member of one of those trade unions. Mr Sime is a member of Unite the Union.
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
The Employee Director is appointed following nomination and vote by the membership of the Area Partnership Forum. The appointment as a non-Executive member of the NHS Board as Employee Director is then subject to Ministerial approval.
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
There are no other Directors who are employees of the Health Board and who receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors. There are two non-executive Members of the Board who are employees of NHSGGC and who receive remuneration in addition to their substantive posts for being non-Executive Members as appointed by Scottish Ministers. These are Patricia Spencer, Chair of the Area Clinical Forum, and Cllr Joseph McIlwee. Profiles for Mrs Spencer and Cllr McIlwee can be found in the Board Members section of our website.
Link to profile for Mrs Patricia Spencer:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_58
Link to profile for Cllr Joseph McIlwee:http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1606_45
I hope that this information is helpful. If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you have a right to request a review of this decision within 40 working days of receiving this response. The procedure for consideration of a review is detailed in the attached note. The note also describes your right to pursue the matter with the Scottish Information Commissioner if, following a request for review, you remain dissatisfied with the decision of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. If following appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner you still remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have a right of appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law against the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner.
If you wish us to review this decision, please complete the form enclosed and return it to the Head of Board Administration, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Corporate HQ, JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH.
Should you require any clarification about this response or the right to request a review please contact me at the details below.
Yours sincerely
Alison Flynn
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
From: markirvine@compuserve.com [mailto:markirvine@compuserve.com]
To: Calderwood, Robert
Subject: FOISA Request
27 July 2011
Robert Calderwood
Chief Executive
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board
BY E-MAIL
Dear Mr Calderwood
FOISA Request
I would like to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002.
1. Who is the current Employee Director of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board?
2. Does this person receive specific remuneration for acting as an Employee Director - and if so, what is the total annual amount?
3. What is the Employee Director's substantive job?
4. Does the Employee Director receive time-off from their day job to carry out their Employee Director duties - and if so, how much time per week?
5. Does the Employee Director have to be a member of trade union - and if so to which union does the current Employee Director belong?
6. How is the Employee Director appointed - by a vote or following an interview process, for example?
7. Do other Directors who are employees of the Health Board receive additional remuneration for acting as Directors, i.e. in addition to their substantive jobs?
I look forward to your reply and would be grateful if you could respond to me by e-mail at: markirvine@compuserve.com
Kind regards
Mark Irvine
