HC Deb 03 February 2000 vol 343 cc652-3W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies spent in total on extra bonuses above usual payments for staff working over the New Year period; what were the(a) maximum and (b) minimum bonuses paid; how many people received the (i) maximum and (ii) minimum payments; and if he will make a statement. [104666]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The total spent in DETR(Central), its agencies and associated bodies is not yet known as some payments have still to be processed. The figures in the table are provisional and are based on the additional costs incurred above the usual overtime and on call payments over the New Year period (31 December to 3 January):

£
DETR(Central) 3,513.35
MCA 429.45
HSE 15,727.00
Total 19,669.80

About half of this relates to on call payments for staff on standby at home. Those staff who attended worked, in general, in emergency planning rooms, IT divisions, Press Office, Private Office and building maintenance and security divisions.

In addition to this, in DETR(C) some special bonuses will be paid to staff who made a particular contribution at this time. As at 31 January, four payments have been made totalling £1,400. The following agencies did not have any staff working over the New Year period: the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, the Rent Service, and the Vehicle Certification Agency.

The information in respect of the following agencies could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost: the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Planning Inspectorate, Government Office, the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Highways Agency.

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