Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 30 January (HL3972), what the total value is of the five special severance payments currently pending approval by the Treasury; and whether any of these payments have already been disbursed or remain withheld pending approval.

All five cases are pending retrospective approval. The National Audit Office, as disclosed on page 47 of the consolidated provider accounts, put a value to these cases of £180,688. Final values may change subject to the approval process.