§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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 are 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. [104490]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information requested for the headquarters Department is not yet available; I will provide a fuller response within the next few weeks.
I have asked the Chief Executives of the Department's agencies to respond directly.
The information in respect of the Department's associated public bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 1 February 2000:
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to your question about extra bonus payments for Insolvency Service staff who worked over the New Year period.The Service has not yet made any New Year bonus payments: I am in the process of approving 9 payments of £300 (gross) each.Letter from Ian Jones to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 1 February 2000:
I am responding on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service to your question about payments to staff over the New Year. I can confirm that no extra bonuses, above usual payments to staff working over the New Year period, were paid by the Employment Tribunals Service.Letter from David Hendon to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 1 February 2000:
The Radiocommunications Agency adopted the DTI scheme of £65 for work between one and six hours subject to an upper limit of £130. 13 staff qualified under this scheme with 5 of these receiving the higher rate.The Agency also has a Special Bonus Scheme (representing 0.4% of its total Pay budget) to reward exceptional performance in demanding circumstances and 5 staff will receive £500 under that scheme.Letter from Alison Brimelow to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 1 February 2000:
The Patent Office paid a total of £41,000 in special payments to key staff over the New Year period. This represented payments to 41 individuals of £1,000 each. All staff received the same amount. They were required to undertake final confidence testing of systems, prepare the systems for normal operations, and carry out any remedial work required between 31 December 1999 and 4 January 2000.Letter from John Holden to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 1 February 2000:
I have been asked to reply to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on Agency bonuses paid over the New Year period. The information you require for Companies House is as follows:Extra bonuses paid over the 1999/2000 New Year Period
532W
- Total amount paid: £28,200
- Maximum bonus payment: £550
- Minimum bonus payment: £50
- No. receiving maximum payment: 31
- No. receiving minimum payment: 1
Other staff received payments between the maximum and minimum, typically £250–£300, to make up the remainder of the total of £28,200.