Non-consolidated performance payments are an integral element of the staff reward package in the Home Office. They have to be re-earned each year and do not add to future pay bill and pensions costs.
The Home Office (including the United Kingdom Border Agency), as part of its annual pay arrangements, pays end-of-year non-consolidated performance-related payments to up to 35 per cent. of its staff. There are separate arrangements for the Department’s senior staff, which are set by the Prime Minister for the whole senior civil service, following independent advice from the Senior Salaries Review Body.
In the financial years for which information is available the total amount paid in end-of-year payments, the average and the largest single payments were:
Number of staff in post Total number of staff in receipt Largest single award (£000) Total paid (£ million) Total salary bill for year (£ million) Average payment (£) Payments as % of salary bill 2005-06 22,670 4,785 15 4.28 752 894 0.56 2006-07 21,630 5,097 15 4.45 723 873 0.61 2007-08 22,380 5,647 20 4.48 710 793 0.63 2008-09 21.460 6,164 22 4.75 791 771 0.60 2009-10 21,360 6,081 15 5.69 815 935 0.69 Notes: 1. The 2008-09 figure is the figure at end September 2008. 2. The 2009-10 figure is the Home Office internal headcount at 31 July 2008. 3. The 2009-10 salary figure is the current year end estimate. Source: The staff in post figures come from ONS Headcount statistics.
It is also possible to give one-off special payments to members of staff in-year to reward exceptional achievements on a project or programme. In 2007, 3,702 staff received such a payment at a total cost of £2.56 million; in 2008, 2,863 staff received such a payment at a cost of £1.16 million. Figures for 2009-10 are not yet available. Figures for previous years cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.