Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 57 of the Information Commissioner's Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014-15, published on 30 June 2015, what the (a) inadvertent error and (b) breach of Civil Service Pay Guidance was; how the fine of £18,400 was calculated; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that fine on (i) remuneration of Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) staff and (ii) the work of the ICO.

HM Treasury imposed a financial penalty of £18,400 on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a breach of the Civil Service Pay Guidance relating to the salary increases of two Executive Team Members. It is within the Treasury’s remit to set policy relating to public funds, including Civil Service Pay Guidance, a breach of which provides the authority to impose appropriate sanctions at its discretion. We do not expect the financial penalty to impact on the remuneration of ICO staff or the work of the organisation.