John McDonnell: To ask the Attorney-General (1) what the details were of severance payments made to outgoing Serious Fraud Office staff including fixed term contract staff, by grade, in each of the last four quarters;

(2) how many staff at the Serious Fraud Office on fixed term contracts that left or had their contracts terminated received a severance payment in the last four quarters; and what the total amount paid out was;

(3) on what date the severance payment and ex-gratia payment to the former Chief Executive of the Serious Fraud Office was made.

The Solicitor-General (Oliver Heald): Details of all severance payments made by the Serious Fraud Office since May 2010 were published in the written ministerial statement made by the Attorney-General on 4 December 2012, Official Report, column 51WS.

The payment for loss of office referred to in the written statement was made to an individual on a fixed term contract and was made in the second quarter of this financial year.

As set out in the SFO's annual accounts for 2011-12, the former chief executive's redundancy costs were accrued into that financial year as the decision and agreement were both made in that financial year and her departure followed soon after it ended. The SFO made a payment of £407,245 to her My Civil Service Pension scheme on 18 May 2012 to cover all additional pension costs arising from early departure. The ex-gratia payment of £15,000 was made on 19 April 2012, and the compensation in lieu of notice of £36,360 was paid on 30 April 2012.

John McDonnell: To ask the Attorney-General what the details were of all bonus payments or ex-gratia payments made to senior civil servants at the Serious Fraud Office, including fixed term contract staff, in each of the last four quarters.

The Solicitor-General: Four senior civil servants (SCS), including one individual working at SCS level on a fixed term contract, received bonus payments in April 2012. The total value of all the payments was £38,000. The largest payment was for £12,500. Two senior civil servants received ex-gratia payments in the first quarter of this financial year at a total cost of £30,000 to £35,000.

John McDonnell: To ask the Attorney-General how many personal assistants are allocated to senior civil servant grade staff at the Serious Fraud Office.

The Solicitor-General: Five. In addition, two other individuals carry out some personal assistant responsibilities as part of their roles.