To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (a) all staff and (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made. (207467)

The Department has used delegated powers to introduce more extensive non-consolidated performance pay to reward for the most effective and best performers. Performance bonus rewards are based on a judgement of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The top 20-25 per cent. performers receive the highest bonus payment. During 2007, 50 per cent. of staff received a bonus worth between 2 per cent. and 4 per cent.

The breakdown of bonuses for the senior civil service for the 2007-08 financial year is set out in the following table:

The breakdown of bonuses for all other staff is set out in the following table:

The Department has no executive agencies.