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11 Dec 2007 : Column 405W—continued
The bonus structure is as follows:
Non-consolidated cash payments, otherwise known as bonuses, reward in-year performances in relation to agreed objectives, or short term personal contribution to wider organisational objectives. Bonuses are paid in addition to base pay increases and do not count towards pension.
Bonuses are allocated by departments from a 'pot' expressed as a percentage of the SCS salary bill, which is agreed centrally each year following the SSRB recommendations. The intention is that bonus decisions should be differentiated in order to recognise the most significant deliverers of in-year performance.
For Staff at Grade 6 and below
The high performance bonus awards scheme introduced in April 2005 provide DEFRA staff with recognition and reward for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance that significantly exceeds normal expectations. The process should provide staff at all grades with an opportunity to earn a bonus, and ensure that achievements in operational, policy and corporate services areas are recognised as being of equal esteem.
In-year high performance bonuses paid to individuals or teams in recognition of one-off achievements during the year; and
Annual high performance bonuses which are paid to the top 10 per cent. of performers in each group for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance sustained throughout the whole year.
The latest published information on the gender breakdown and ethic composition of civil servants is as at 30 September 2006 and is available in tables N and O at:
The other information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years. [171548]
Jonathan Shaw: Payment of non-consolidated performance bonuses reflects the principle across the civil service of rewarding performance through one-off, non-consolidated payments. End-of-year bonuses are awarded to staff for high performance sustained throughout the whole year.
The following table shows details of end-of year bonuses awarded to SCS staff in core-Defra and its Executive Agencies in accordance with Cabinet Office arrangements; and for staff below the SCS in core-Defra and those Agencies covered by the core-Department's reward arrangements (Animal Health, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Services). Data prior to 2005 are available only at disproportionate cost due to systems changes.
| Defra (£) | |
The total sums paid annually in performance bonuses equate to a little over 1 per cent. of paybill.
For staff below SCS in Defra's other Executive Agencies (Central Science Laboratory, Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Rural Payments Agency and Veterinary Laboratories Agency), who have pay delegation, the following table illustrates the amount of end-of year bonus payments over the last five years. For the RPA, data prior to 2004 are available only at disproportionate costs due to systems changes; and 2007 end-of-year bonuses have not yet been finalised.
| £ | |||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
Departmental Postal Services
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many items of post sent by his Department and its predecessor were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997. [171289]
Jonathan Shaw:
I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and Agencies for the storage and use of
data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.
Departmental Public Participation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what opinion polls his Department has conducted of (a) the public and (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case. [164952]
Jonathan Shaw: The following surveys have been carried out by or on behalf of DEFRA since 27 June 2007:
Energy: Conservation
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations he has undertaken of the Cheltenham Rule to increase energy efficient methods in new builds and reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions. [163637]
Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
I understand the Cheltenham Rule is a proposal for metering energy use by developers. I have received no representations about the rule and I am not aware of any local authorities which have implemented anything equivalent.
In the Energy White Paper we set out our ambitions for all homes to incorporate smart meters and real time display devices. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform consultation on these proposals closed at the end of October 2007, and the Government are considering all views received during this consultation period and will make a further announcement in the new year.
Fisheries: EU Law
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 July 2007, Official Report, columns 512-13W, on fisheries: EU law, how the estimated costs of implementing the European rules on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities have changed; and if he will make a statement. [171725]
Jonathan Shaw:
The discussions between member states and the Commission on the detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation 1966/2006 on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities and on means of remote sensing will be completed shortly. Until these discussions are concluded, the estimates of costs provided to the House in July (19 July 2007, Official Report, columns 512-13W ) are still believed to be the best estimates available.
Fisheries: Protection
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency provisions are in place to provide fisheries enforcement in the event of all three river class offshore patrol vessels being unavailable for operation at the same time under the terms of the contract for the use of the Fishery Protection Squadron which enters into force on 1 April 2008; and if he will make a statement. [171681]
Jonathan Shaw: The agreement drawn up, which enters into force with effect from 1 April 2008, does not provide any contingency for a situation where all three River Class vessels are unavailable for fishery protection duties. In discussion with the Ministry of Defence, the Marine and Fisheries Agency considered that the risk of having no fishery protection cover for any lengthy period was low. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Defence would seek to provide suitable replacement patrol vessels if there is extended “time off task” by one of the River Class Patrol vessels.
Fisheries: Subsidies
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the press release issued on 27 November 2007 by his Department, how much funding the Government plan to provide to the fishing industry in addition to that provided by the European Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement. [171726]
Jonathan Shaw: The amount of money the Government intend to make available will be indicated in the financial tables of the draft Operational Programme for the European Fisheries Fund which will be subject to a consultation. This will be a 12-week consultation which I expect to commence early in 2008.
Foot and Mouth Disease: Compensation
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid to Scottish farmers and crofters by the UK Government consequent upon the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and what proportion of this was compensation for (a) the culling of livestock and (b) economic losses. [167731]
Jonathan Shaw: Based on the Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture, the total compensation payments made to Scottish farmers and crofters for animals culled during the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak was £189.713 million. No payments were made for economic losses.
Foot and Mouth Disease: Wiltshire
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the compensation allocated to farmers following the foot and mouth crisis in August has been allocated to Wiltshire. [171022]
Jonathan Shaw: The Animal Health Act 1981 and Human Rights legislation requires that compensation is paid for animals compulsorily killed and property compulsorily destroyed to prevent the spread of disease. Therefore, as there was no foot and mouth disease in Wiltshire, no compensation has been paid to farmers there.
As part of the £12.5 million support package announced on 8 October, farmers in Wiltshire will benefit from the £2 million allocated to promote the sales of lamb, beef and pork domestically and in our export markets, which we are doing all we can to return to normal within the EU by January. They will also have access to the support provided through a donation of up to £1 million to the Arthur Rank Centre for disbursement to Farming Help charities, which provide advice and practical and emotional support to farming families.
Gleadthorpe Farm
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) the market value and (b) his Department’s valuation is of his Department’s Gleadthorpe Cottages in Meden Vale. [170559]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 3 December 2007]: The 15 residential dwellings at Gleadthorpe farm reverted back to direct Departmental management following the surrender of the ADAS farm tenancy on 28th September 2007.
The only valuation the Departmental has commissioned to date is a market valuation assuming vacant possession for the purposes of making ‘offers to purchase’ to the qualifying tenants in line with the right to buy provisions under the Housing Act. This is the appropriate valuation basis for the market value provided.
The market value of the cottages as reported by the Department’s valuer is £1,825,000.
The Department does not currently have any other valuations of the cottages.
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