To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in his Department received bonus payments in 2006-07; what proportion of the total work force they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement. (143097)

The Department of Trade and Industry awards non-consolidated bonuses in two formats:

Special bonuses to recognise performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations. Staff in receipt of a special bonus may also receive an annual performance award.

Annual performance awards paid to highly successful performance as part of the annual pay award.

Based on the information available the number of staff receiving these awards, as a proportion of the total work force they represent, total amount of bonuses and the size of the single largest payment for which this information can be provided is in the following table.

In 2006-07 the total value of bonuses paid was approximately 1.8 per cent. of the Department's total paybill.

The special bonuses and performance awards for non-SCS staff are paid on a non-consolidated, non-pensionable basis and do not increase the Department's paybill costs each year. For the SCS the Senior Salaries Review Body determines the level of expenditure to cover bonuses.