Payment of non-consolidated performance bonuses reflects the principle across the civil service of rewarding performance increasingly through one-off payments rather than increases to basic salary.
Annual performance bonuses are paid to staff in the SCS for high performance sustained throughout the whole year.
Information on annual performance bonuses prior to November 2004 is available only at disproportionate cost, as a result of system changes.
For 2005 and 2006, the number of annual performance bonuses awarded and the total cost of these bonuses was as follows:
Number of staff awarded bonuses Total amount of bonuses paid (£) 2005 148 740,877 2006 131 986,632
The data relate to bonuses awarded to those in core-DEFRA and its Executive Agencies (excluding chief executives) in accordance with Cabinet Office arrangements.
Data prior to November 2004, is available only at disproportionate cost. For the period from November 2004 to November 2006, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 7 December 2006, Official Report, column 578W.
For the period from January 2007 to May 2007, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 69W.
For December 2006, the month not covered by the two replies above, In-Year and Annual Performance bonuses totalling £78,218 were awarded to 154 staff below the SCS, covered by core-DEFRA pay arrangements, i.e. staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service.