Cameron lifts veil of salary secrecy
Source: Agencies |
June 2, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE British government disclosed yesterday the names and salaries of 172 civil servants who are on higher pay than the prime minister, saying the move would allow the public to better hold officials to account.
Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, said in a statement that transparency was key to the new coalition government.
In coming months, more details will be released of previously confidential information on pay levels and on how public money is spent.
"By being open and accountable, we can start to win back people's trust. Openness will not be comfortable for us in government but it will enable the public to hold our feet to the fire," Maude said.
Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised during their election campaigns that they would improve transparency in government as they sought to regain public confidence after last year's scandal over MPs' expenses.
The Cabinet Office issued a list of senior civil servants earning more than 150,000 pounds (US$217,545) per year, including their names, job titles and pay packages.
The best paid was John Fingleton, chief executive of the Office of Fair Trading, whose annual pay including taxable benefits and allowances is 280,000 pounds.
That is almost double David Cameron's annual pay as prime minister of 142,500 pounds, although as an MP, Cameron also receives a parliamentary salary.
At their first formal meeting, Cabinet members in the new coalition agreed to take a 5 percent pay cut compared with what their Labour predecessors were earning, and to accept a five-year pay freeze.
The government said that over the lifetime of the parliament, the ministerial pay cut and freeze would save about 3 million pounds.
Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, said in a statement that transparency was key to the new coalition government.
In coming months, more details will be released of previously confidential information on pay levels and on how public money is spent.
"By being open and accountable, we can start to win back people's trust. Openness will not be comfortable for us in government but it will enable the public to hold our feet to the fire," Maude said.
Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised during their election campaigns that they would improve transparency in government as they sought to regain public confidence after last year's scandal over MPs' expenses.
The Cabinet Office issued a list of senior civil servants earning more than 150,000 pounds (US$217,545) per year, including their names, job titles and pay packages.
The best paid was John Fingleton, chief executive of the Office of Fair Trading, whose annual pay including taxable benefits and allowances is 280,000 pounds.
That is almost double David Cameron's annual pay as prime minister of 142,500 pounds, although as an MP, Cameron also receives a parliamentary salary.
At their first formal meeting, Cabinet members in the new coalition agreed to take a 5 percent pay cut compared with what their Labour predecessors were earning, and to accept a five-year pay freeze.
The government said that over the lifetime of the parliament, the ministerial pay cut and freeze would save about 3 million pounds.
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