To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of staff of his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

[Official Report, 22 July 2008, Vol. 479, c. 991W.]

Letter of correction from Mr. Ivan Lewis:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 22 July 2008. The entry for the year 2007-08 was incorrect. The correct answer is as follows: (217417)

The Department for International Development (DFID) operates two separate bonus schemes.

The first is an established bonus scheme for members of the senior civil service (SCS). Bonuses are awarded at three different levels (high, medium or no bonus award). The proportion of SCS members who did not receive the high level (or maximum) bonus in each of the last two years was as follows:

The second performance bonus scheme is for home civil service staff (HCS) below the SCS. The HCS bonus scheme was introduced under the 2007 pay deal for HCS staff and will come into effect in the 2008-09 performance appraisal year.