Hain rejects criticism over role in former employee’s appointment in N Ireland

Apr 30 2008 by Martin Shipton, Western Mail

PETER HAIN was criticised by political opponents last night for recommending the appointment of one of his own former employees as a paid adviser to a committee reviewing education in Northern Ireland.

But the former Cabinet minister robustly rejected allegations of cronyism, saying former Neath Port Talbot director of education Vivian Thomas was right for the job, and that in any case he had donated his fees to charity.

Mr Thomas earned £10,500 for 21 days work as an expert adviser to the Bain review of schools education in the province, established when Mr Hain was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The review evaluated schools funding in the context of falling pupil numbers and the introduction of a revised curriculum.

Information released to Sammy Wilson, an MP representing Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party, includes a document with a handwritten civil servant’s note stating: “SS (Secretary of State) is keen to use Vivian Thomas from Wales who has impressed him in education.”

Plaid Cymru’s South Wales West AM, Dai Lloyd, said: “Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows clearly that Peter Hain circumvented the normal process for public appointments – the job was not advertised and the appointment was made solely on his recommendation.

“What is unclear is whether civil servants were fully appraised by Peter Hain of the circumstances surrounding Vivian Thomas’ retirement as director of education in 1999. An extract from the local press at the time confirmed that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council had suspended its director of education and two other senior officials as part of an investigation into the authority’s tendering process for catering in primary schools.

“A further report confirmed that the council had reached an agreement with solicitors representing Mr Thomas that he should be relieved of his duties on the grounds of ill health. He subsequently retired.”

Mr Lloyd added: “While this is another example of Labour cronyism, it also serves to illustrate a pattern of poor judgement on behalf of Peter Hain, the former Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland.”

But Mr Hain, pictured below, said: “I think the public are sick and tired of Plaid Cymru throwing mud by the ton.

“Vivian Thomas was the most successful director of education in Wales, who had to retire early because of ill-health. Under his leadership, Neath Port Talbot local education authority was propelled from the second lowest to the top performing of all 22 LEAs in Wales.

“Because of his expertise, and because of the particular issue of small schools in Wales, I thought he would be a very useful person to act as an adviser to the education review in Northern Ireland. Religious bigotry has created a situation where there are many small schools in Northern Ireland, and it is very expensive.

“Vivian worked temporarily for me for a couple of months. He would not accept payment for his work on the Bain review, and he donated his fees to an autism charity in Northern Ireland.

“His appointment as an adviser to the review was absolutely in line with public appointments of this kind.

“If there had been any question of his being made a member of the review team, rather than an adviser, of course there would have been an advertisement.”