In the Department the following amounts were paid as non-consolidated performance related awards in each year since 2003.
Performance year Total of non-consolidated payments (£ million) DFES 2003-04 1.5 2004-05 1.8 2005-06 1.9 2006-07 2.1 DCSF 2007-08 1.9 2008-09 1.9
The information for 2003-04 to 2006-07 refers to the former Department for Education and Skills (DFES).
Non-consolidated performance payments are subject to strict criteria in line with the Government's policy on public sector pay. Senior civil service non-consolidated payments are determined as part of a central performance management framework managed by the Cabinet Office. Payments for other grades are subject to the pay remit process and reflect previous pay settlements. Non-consolidated performance payments have to re-earn each year and do not add to future pay bill costs (e.g. pensions) and are an integral element of the reward package for staff.
The information requested is set out in the following table:
(a) average non-consolidated performance related payment for senior civil servants (b) highest non-consolidated performance related payment for senior civil servants 2007-08 9,753 25,000 2008-09 8,732 15,000
The information for 2005-07, for the former Department for Education and Skills (DfES), is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs. Non-consolidated performance payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional potential, for example by exceeding targets or meeting challenging objectives. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the senior civil service is based on recommendations from the independent senior salaries review body. Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs.