Defra attacked over ‘extravagant’ wages

In answer to a Parliamentary Question, Defra confirmed 91 staff, including two at the RPA, received remuneration, including employers’ contributions, of £100,000 or more in 2008-09.

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat agriculture spokesman and MP for the rural Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, said the wages were indefensible given the plight of many of his farmers.

“With the average hill farmer earning just £5,000 a year, it’s hard to justify the extravagant amounts being paid to so many civil servants.

“Especially when you consider hill farmers aren’t getting the type of pension contributions and inflated bonuses that have become second nature in the civil service,” he said.

Mr Farron also questioned whether Defra’s ‘top brass’ were value for money given a number of high profile mistakes, “particularly the loss of 100,000 farmers’ personal bank details by the Rural Payments Agency,” he said.

But Defra knocked back Mr Farron’s accusations and said his figures were misleading.

A spokesperson said: “The figures include those staff whose salaries and benefits, including pension contributions and other employers’ contributions, cost the department over £100,000. This is not the take-home salary (before tax) for those staff.”

The Department pointed out that only 19 staff had a ‘take-home’ pay of more than £100,000 in 2008-09.

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