DECC was created on 3 October 2008 when staff were transferred from BERR and DEFRA. Work is currently being undertaken to design the DECC pay systems. These will need to be approved by HMT and negotiated with the trade unions for implementation later in the year. In line with civil service pay policy, the DECC pay arrangements will include a performance-based bonus scheme which will cover all staff but no decisions have been taken so far on the proportion of staff in any year who will actually receive a bonus.