Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Instant Rewards of what value were given to her Department's officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

In 2013, 3,954 instant rewards were issued to officials of the Department for Education. The total value of such rewards was £132,140, giving an average value of £33.42.

In 2014 to date (4 November), 4,825 instant rewards have been issued. The total value of instant rewards this year has been £200,245, giving an average value of £41.50.

The instant reward scheme is funded from the staff pay bill (not in addition to it). Each year 0.1% of the pay budget is set aside to pay for instant reward vouchers and any associated tax and National Insurance.