Monday 25th November 2013

(10 years, 11 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Priti Patel Portrait Priti Patel
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid to officials in (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each of the last five years; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest payments made in each year.

[Official Report, 25 April 2013, Vol. 561, c. 1272-276W.]

Letter of correction from Anna Soubry:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Witham (Priti Patel) on 25 April 2013.

The full answer given was as follows:

Lord Robathan Portrait Mr Robathan
- Hansard - -

It continues to be a fundamental principle of Government policy that reward in the public sector should be linked to performance. The Ministry of Defence (MOD), in line with other Government Departments, rewards performance through the use of non-consolidated payments which reflect outputs, results and performance. These payments are colloquially known as ‘bonuses', although this is a misleading description because the performance-related element of pay is part of the Departmental pay bill rather than being an additional cost. In addition, the MOD operates a special bonus scheme (SBS) to reward civilian staff below the senior civil service (SCS) for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of professional qualifications which benefit the MOD and the individual. Both types of payments are non-pensionable and are a cost effective way of rewarding performance since they do not count towards pension costs, and so reduce the overall cost of employing civil servants.

Since 2010-11, the Government has restricted performance related payments for the SCS to the top 25% of performers (from 65% in previous years), saving the taxpayer around £15 million. They are only paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer. Pay decisions for non-senior staff are delegated to individual departments, enabling them to tailor reward packages that meet their own work force and business needs. Payments made since 1 April 2011 are detailed in Departmental transparency data which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-consolidated-performance-awards--2

Details of how much has been paid in non-consolidated awards in financial years 2008-09 to 2012-13 are reproduced in the following tables.

Table 1: Details how much was paid to permanent members of the SCS in non-consolidated awards.

Table 1—SCS permanent staff

Performance year

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

Financial year (FY)

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of awards paid (£)

1,501,700

1,594,500

995,500

505,500

362,000

Number of awards paid

187

195

169

62

58



Table 2 details how much was paid to senior staff on fixed term appointments in non-consolidated awards.

Table 2—SCS Fixed Term Appointees

Performance year

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

FY

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of awards paid (£)

333,915

838,393

557,293

616,916

1320,026

Number of awards paid

16

27

23

21

13

1 There are still two awards outstanding that have not yet been paid.



Table 3 shows the monetary values of the largest non-consolidated payments to the combined SCS population of permanent staff and fixed term appointees.

Table 3—Top 20 highest non-consolidated awards for combined SCS population

£

FY 2008-09

88,296

61,250

50,000

48,000

37,675

31,703

30,780

30,000

30,000

30,000

27,600

24,000

23,085

22,085

22,000

21,546

20,480

19,000

17,163

17,091

FY 2009-10

84,563

75,000

72,540

55,350

50,000

50,000

48,720

48,000

31,470

30,750

30,000

30,000

25,765

24,101

22,888

21,337

21,033

16,200

15,000

15,000

FY 2010-11

73,080

49,937

49,900

48,720

35,113

31,668

26,715

25,755

22,888

22,153

17,000

16,100

15,750

15,605

15,000

15,000

13,800

12,500

12,500

12,500

FY 2011-12

85,831

69,459

49,950

49,500

48,720

33,833

25,578

20,554

19,492

19,184

17,637

15,415

12,500

12,180

11,250

10,000

9,000

9,000

9,000

9,000

FY 2012-13

60,000

48,720

48,720

36,541

35,729

27,087

14,559

13,015

10,842

8,000

8,000

7,813

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000



Table 4 details how much was paid to staff below the senior civil service in non-consolidated awards.

Table 4—Staff below the SCS

Performance year

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

FY

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-131

Value of non consolidated awards paid (£)

47,516,913

44,231,916

43,521,423

42,025,950

28,059,302

Number of awards paid

71,940

66,585

65,504

64,944

51,829

1 Figures for financial year 2012-13 do not include special bonus scheme awards made in March 2013.



Table 4 excludes information on staff in MOD Trading Funds as they have separate pay delegations.

With the exception of the Royal Air Force Museum and the National Museum of the Royal Navy, figures for the Department's non-departmental public bodies are included in the figures above.

Non Consolidated Performance Awards—The Royal Air Force Museum:

Table 5 details the total value of payments made to staff by way of non-consolidated performance and special bonus scheme (SBS) awards by financial year.

Table 5—RAF Museum

Financial year

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of non- consolidated awards (£)

102,379

69,300

49,600

70,024

74,919

Number staff receiving non-consolidated awards

184

186

171

163

166

Payment range non-consolidated (£)

67-5,610

100-5,610

100-400

100-550

100-525

Value of SBS (£)

2,750

4,050

6,050

7,350

Number staff receiving SBS

5

11

8

17

Payment range SBS (£)

250-1,000

250-1,000

250-3,000

250-1,000



Non Consolidated Performance Awards—The National Museum of the Royal Navy:

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is no longer a non-departmental public body as it has gained charitable status. However, details are included for financial years 2008-09 to 2012-13. Table 6 details the total value of payments made to staff by way of non consolidated performance awards. The National Museum of the Royal Navy has no special bonus scheme.

Table 6—The National Museum of the Royal Navy

Financial year

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of non-consolidated awards (£)

0

8,500

8,620

8,827.50

10,000

Number staff receiving non-consolidated awards

0

1

1

1

2



The correct answer should have been:

Lord Robathan Portrait Mr Robathan
- Hansard - -

It continues to be a fundamental principle of Government policy that reward in the public sector should be linked to performance. The Ministry of Defence (MOD), in line with other Government Departments, rewards performance through the use of non-consolidated payments which reflect outputs, results and performance. These payments are colloquially known as 'bonuses', although this is a misleading description because the performance-related element of pay is part of the Departmental pay bill rather than being an additional cost. In addition, the MOD operates a special bonus scheme (SBS) to reward civilian staff below the senior civil service (SCS) for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of professional qualifications which benefit the MOD and the individual. Both types of payments are non-pensionable and are a cost effective way of rewarding performance since they do not count towards pension costs, and so reduce the overall cost of employing civil servants.

Since 2010-11, the Government has restricted performance related payments for the SCS to the top 25% of performers (from 65% in previous years), saving the taxpayer around £15 million. They are only paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer. Pay decisions for non-senior staff are delegated to individual departments, enabling them to tailor reward packages that meet their own work force and business needs. Payments made since 1 April 2011 are detailed in Departmental transparency data which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-consolidated-performance-awards--2

Details of how much has been paid in non-consolidated awards in financial years 2008-09 to 2012-13 are reproduced in the following tables.

Table 1: Details how much was paid to permanent members of the SCS in non-consolidated awards.

Table 1—SCS permanent staff

Performance year

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

Financial year (FY)

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of awards paid (£)

1,501,700

1,594,500

995,500

505,500

362,000

Number of awards paid

187

195

169

62

58



Table 2 details how much was paid to senior staff on fixed term appointments in non-consolidated awards.

Table 2—SCS Fixed Term Appointees

Performance year

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

FY

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of awards paid (£)

333,915

838,393

557,293

616,916

1320,026

Number of awards paid

16

27

23

21

13

1 There are still two awards outstanding that have not yet been paid.



Table 3 shows the monetary values of the largest non-consolidated payments to the combined SCS population of permanent staff and fixed term appointees.

Table 3—Top 20 highest non-consolidated awards for combined SCS population

£

FY 2008-09

88,296

61,250

50,000

48,000

37,675

31,703

30,780

30,000

30,000

30,000

27,600

24,000

23,085

22,085

22,000

21,546

20,480

19,000

17,163

17,091

FY 2009-10

84,563

75,000

72,540

55,350

50,000

50,000

48,720

48,000

31,470

30,750

30,000

30,000

25,765

24,101

22,888

21,337

21,033

16,200

15,000

15,000

FY 2010-11

73,080

49,937

49,900

48,720

35,113

31,668

26,715

25,755

22,888

22,153

17,000

16,100

15,750

15,605

15,000

15,000

13,800

12,500

12,500

12,500

FY 2011-12

85,831

69,459

49,950

49,500

48,720

33,833

25,578

20,554

19,492

19,184

17,637

15,415

12,500

12,180

11,250

10,000

9,000

9,000

9,000

9,000

FY 2012-13

60,000

48,720

48,720

36,541

35,729

27,087

14,559

13,015

10,842

8,000

8,000

7,813

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000



Table 4 details how much was paid to staff below the senior civil service in non-consolidated awards.

Table 4—Staff below the SCS

Performance year

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

FY

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-131

Value of non consolidated awards paid (£)

47,516,913

44,231,916

43,521,423

42,025,950

28,059,302

Number of awards paid

71,940

66,585

65,504

64,944

51,829

1 Figures for financial year 2012-13 do not include special bonus scheme awards made in March 2013.



Table 4 excludes information on staff in MOD Trading Funds as they have separate pay delegations.

With the exception of the Royal Air Force Museum and the National Museum of the Royal Navy, figures for the Department's non-departmental public bodies are included in the figures above.

Non Consolidated Performance Awards—The Royal Air Force Museum:

Table 5 details the total value of payments made to staff by way of non-consolidated performance and special bonus scheme (SBS) awards by financial year.

Table 5—RAF Museum

Financial year

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of non-consolidated awards (£)

102,379

69,300

49,600

70,024

74,919

Number staff receiving non-consolidated awards

184

186

171

163

166

Payment range non-consolidated (£)

67-5,610

100-5,610

100-400

100-550

100-525

Value of SBS (£)

2,750

4,050

6,050

7,350

Number staff receiving SBS

5

11

8

17

Payment range SBS (£)

250-1,000

250-1,000

250-3,000

250-1,000



Non Consolidated Performance Awards—The National Museum of the Royal Navy:

The National Museum of the Royal Navy remains a non-departmental public body. However, details are included for financial years 2008-09 to 2012-13. Table 6 details the total value of payments made to staff by way of non consolidated performance awards. The National Museum of the Royal Navy has no special bonus scheme.

Table 6—The National Museum of the Royal Navy

Financial year

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Value of non-consolidated awards (£)

0

8,500

8,620

8,827.50

10,000

Number staff receiving non-consolidated awards

0

1

1

1

2