Harman questioned on EHRC chief executive £1,000 per day salary

Joint Committee on Human Rights – 15/12/2009

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has been examining the Process for appointments to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.  As part of that process it has been asking why the Commission is paying Neil Kingham, its interim chief executive, £1,000 per day.

This follows previous evidence sessions with the Chair of the EHRC, Trevor Phillips OBE, and with former EHRC Commissioners, Professor Kay Hampton, Professor Francesca Klug OBE, Sir Bert Massie and Ben Summerskill OBE.

The committee was told on 15th December that since the former chief executive Nicola Brewer (salary – £185,000 pa)  left the EHRC in May there had been a “process to recruit her replacement”.  However  “issues over salaries are delaying an appointment”. The process has now been suspended, more than six months after the position became vacant, until a decision is made about how much to pay. Harriet Harman told the committee that “The likely scenario is a new chief executive on considerably lower pay than the old one”.

Ms Harman was also challenged about her decision to re-appoint Trevor Phillips as EHRC chair. Lord Morris wanted to know why the position was not opened up to competition. Apparently Harman’s reply was “My approach was whether Trevor had the right qualities to lead a big and important organisation.”

Jonathan Rees, director-general of the Government Equalities Office, told the committee that Trevor Phillips was reappointed in September 2009 for three years and cannot be re-appointed a third time. Mr Phillips is paid £115,000 for 3 1/2 days a week.

Related resources: Human resources policy | EEO policy

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