DEFRA boss earns more than Prime Minister
The civil servant in charge of DEFRA earns more than the Prime Minister, it has emerged.
DEFRA permanent secretary Helen Ghosh is on a salary of £140,000 to £144,999 for a four-and-a-half day week. Her full-time equivalent salary – the amount earned if she worked five days a week – is £155,556 to £161,110.
This is more than Prime Minister David Cameron who earns £142,500-a-year, according to Cabinet Office figures.
In total, 332 civil servants have been deemed “high earners” by the government because they earn more than £150,000 a year.
Their salaries are more than eight times higher than the average annual farm income of £18,000. An average hill farmer – on a typical annual income of £6000 – would take 25 years to earn £150,000.
Dame Ghosh is joined on the list by Bob Watson, DEFRA’s chief scientific adviser, who earns £135,000 to 139,999 for a four day week. His full-time equivalent salary is £168,750 to £174,999 – again more than that earned by Mr Cameron.
It is the first time this information has been published in one place. Some of it has never been made public before. The list includes details of high earners in non-departmental public bodies. Details were withheld for 24 individuals.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who published the information, said it would help people hold politicians and public bodies to account.
“Transparency is fast becoming an integral part of everything we do,” said Mr Maude, who chairs the public sector transparency board. “This will not only increase accountability, but will lead to more efficient public service organisations.”
Other high earners on the list include Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster who earns £195,000 to £199,999. He is among four senior civil servants at the Environment Agency who earn more than £150,000 a year.
Operations director David Jordan earns £165-£170k and resources director Graham Jedward earns £150-£155k. Environment Agency chairman Chris Smith earns £105-£110k for a three-day week (£175- £183k full-time equivalent).
Food Standards Agency chief executive Tim Smith earns £190,000 to £194,999. The full list of high earners can be downloaded here