To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) average and (b) highest non-consolidated performance related payment for senior civil servants in his Department was in cash terms in each of the last five years. (303014)

[holding answer 30 November 2009]: For the years 2006-07 to 2008-09, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend Lord Brett on 12 January 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA146.

For the highest amount paid out to an individual, in each case a senior civil servant, for the years 2004-05 to 2005-06, I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield Heeley (Meg Munn) to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 3 July 2008, Official Report, column 1125W.

The average non-consolidated performance related payment for senior civil servants in 2004-05 was £2,128 in 2004-05 and £4,025 in 2005-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2009, Official Report, column 161W, on departmental pay, how much was paid out in total under his Department’s main bonus scheme in each year since 1997; how much was paid out on average under the main bonus scheme to each of those whose received money from it in each year since 1997; how much the highest amount paid out to an individual under the main bonus scheme was in each year since 1997; how many individuals received a payment under the main bonus scheme in each year since 1997; how much was paid out in total under the in-year bonus scheme in each year since 1997; how much was paid out on average under the in-year bonus scheme to each of those who received money from it in each year since 1997; what the highest amount paid out to an individual was under the in-year bonus scheme in each year since 1997; and how many individuals received a payment under the in-year bonus scheme in each year since 1997. (303591)

Payment of non-consolidated, variable pay linked to performance was introduced in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2002. We reward staff who are performing most effectively, frequently in dangerous and difficult posts. Bonuses represented 2.97 per cent. of our 2008-09 payroll costs. In 2004, we moved to in-house payroll provision. New data prior to 2004 can be extracted only at a disproportionate cost, but some information has previously been published in the Official Report as follows.

The total number of individuals receiving bonuses was:

For the total sums paid out under the main bonus scheme, and the in-year scheme, for 2006-07, I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson) on 5 July 2007, Official Report, column 1142W; for 2002-06 in the reply by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) to my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) on 27 November 2006, Official Report, column 462W.

The main scheme paid out £6,333,024 in 2007-08 and £7,054,036 in 2008-09. The in-year scheme paid out £415,128 and £517,800 in the same periods.

For the highest amount paid out to an individual, for the years 2004-05 to 2005-06, I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield Heeley (Meg Munn) to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 3 July 2008, Official Report, column 1125W. For the years 2006-07 to 2008-09, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend Lord Brett on 12 January 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA146.

The highest amount paid under the in-year scheme has been £2,000 since 2005-06. The average amount paid in the in-year scheme in the period 2005-09 has been successively £946, £748, £952 and £1,190. The average amount paid in the main scheme has been successively £1,083; £1,217; £1,303; £1,553.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2009, Official Report, column 161W, on departmental pay, how much his Department has paid out in bonuses to staff in each year since 1997. (303632)

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave in PQ 303591.