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Pay

Answer

This response covers Core DEFRA, Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), the Environment Agency (EA), the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), the Joint Nature Conservation Council (JNCC), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Natural England (NE) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew).

The criteria for determining performance payments in the Department varies slightly for the senior civil service, non-SCS and the core-Department and executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Senior civil service (SCS) in core-DEFRA and its executive agencies

Annual performance payments are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Senior Civil Service Pay Guidance, which sets the criteria for payments to the top 25% of performers, based on the outcome of a Department-wide performance management moderation process. Performance pay for permanent secretaries is governed by separate criteria set by the Cabinet Office. The Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee (PSRC) makes recommendations to the Prime Minister on payments.

Non-SCS in Core D EFRA and its e xecutive a gencies

Annual performance payments for staff below SCS in core-DEFRA and the executive agencies are directly linked to the outcome of the annual performance management process, with payments generally limited to those who receive the highest performance marking.

In addition to individual performance related pay, CEFAS operates a Corporate Performance Payment Scheme, with payments linked to the achievement of ministerial and specific financial targets. These payments are not awarded to individuals whose performance during the year is considered unsatisfactory.

In addition to the annual performance payment schemes in operation, core-DEFRA, AHVLA, VMD, FERA, and RPA operate in-year performance payment schemes. The schemes recognise teams or individual employees for one-off excellent achievements relating to work done over a limited time period during the year.

Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)

For senior staff in the NDPBs, the criteria for awarding performance related payments are expected to reflect the arrangements that are in place for the SCS. The exception to this is in CCW, whose chief executive has a contractual obligation to performance related pay. The amount payable is based on an agreed formula relating to the delivery of specified objectives and is agreed by CCW's Remuneration Committee.

For staff below SCS equivalent level, CCW and RBG Kew do not award performance related pay.

For staff in the other NDPBs, the criteria for awarding annual performance payments is set out in the following table:

Organisation	Criteria
EA	EA do not have an annual performance related pay scheme in place for staff below senior executive level. EA have a specific, sales related scheme for staff below senior executive level in the Geomatics National Laboratory Service, where payments are awarded depending on the level of revenue brought into the business.
GLA	Payments are made to the top 25% of staff based on a nominations process by line managers, with criteria based on objectives agreed at the start of the year. Decisions on which nominations are successful are taken by GLA's Remuneration Committee.
JNCC	Payments are directly linked to the outcome of the annual performance management process with payments limited to staff who receive the top two performance markings.
MMO	Payments are directly linked to the outcome of the annual performance management process with payments limited to staff who receive the top performance marking.
NE	Payments are directly linked to the outcome of the annual performance management process with payments limited to staff who receive the top two performance markings.

In addition to the annual performance payment schemes in operation, EA, GLA, JNCC and MMO operate in-year performance payment schemes. The schemes recognise teams or individual employees for one-off excellent achievements relating to work done over a limited time period during the year.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

151132; 561 c1234W

Session

2012-13

Subjects

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Pay

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk