Defra rejects bonus accusation

However, Defra has rejected accusations of a burgeoning bonus payout and instead said Departmental rewards had fallen significantly since 2005.

Figures released by 11 of Whitehall’s largest departments found civil servants cashed in on £105 million in bonuses last year and Sunday newspapers accused Defra of tripling its bonus payout.

However, a Defra spokesperson said the figures had been ‘twisted’ and the number of staff receiving bonuses had actually fallen from 3,535 in 2005 to 1,818 in 2008. Just over 36 per cent of Defra staff recieved a bonus in between April 2007 and March 2008.

Critics nevertheless rounded on senior Defra officials who received bonuses as high at £15,640 in 2008 at a time when farmers were suffering from the deepening economic crisis.

But the Defra spokesperson defended the payout that reflected ‘outstanding outcomes’.

“Defra’s Performance related variable pay schemes are designed to recognise and reward for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance that significantly exceeds normal expectations.

“All Government Departments are expected to increase the proportion of reward that is dependent on performance,” said the spokesperson.

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