Following a meeting with the TUI and the ASTI, the SEC issued the following statement:
Changes to Travel and Subsistence Arrangements for SEC Contract Staff
For the 2015 examinations the SEC has made some changes to its approach to the calculation of certain travel and subsistence expenses (T&S) for contract staff engaged on examinations work. The changes for 2015 have come about due to a recent audit. As a public service body the SEC must operate in compliance with the T&S arrangements for the public service. The SEC has established through a review of claims from previous years that the changes, which are set out below, are likely to have a minimal impact on most contract staff although some individuals will be impacted to a greater degree than others.
Details of the changes were included in all Letters of Appointment and/or in the Conditions of Appointment to positions with the SEC and were also subsequently included in the claiming instructions and forms of account for the 2015 examinations.
However, it has come to the attention of the SEC that not all contract staff affected by these changes appreciated the impact on them until after they had accepted their appointment for 2015. For 2016 the SEC will seek to ensure greater awareness of the arrangements for the calculation of T&S and will in future draw greater attention to any changes to these arrangements.
The changes brought in with new effect from the 2015 examinations are as follows:
- Payment of travel expenses and calculation of entitlement to subsistence allowances will be calculated by reference to the lesser of the distance between the home address and the location(s) to which assigned by the SEC or the headquarters (i.e. teaching school) and the assigned location(s).
- The qualifying distance for Oral and Practical examiners, including the LCA and LCA tasks, to claim overnight expenses is now 48 km (30 miles) (was 25km (15 miles)).
- If claiming a night allowance, the cost of travel between the examination centre and the temporary accommodation is not recoupable.
The SEC will continue to comply with public service T&S regulations and in this regard changes to the public service arrangements for travel and subsistence will be implemented by the SEC. Any such changes will be communicated to contract staff at the time of appointment and in subsequent financial information.