‘Written consent needed’ for big rail bonuses

The Government has to give written approval before Network Rail can award six-figure bonuses to executives, Labour claimed.

Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said her party had “discovered” the requirement for the Department for Transport (DfT) to give written approval and the Minister could sit on a five-person remuneration committee.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said she would attend Network Rail’s AGM on Friday and vote against a plan to give chief executive Sir David Higgins a £340,000 bonus. But she warned the Government had only a single vote and the result would not binding.

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Ms Eagle said: “Justine Greening is wrong to say that she cannot block these bonuses. Not only does [she] have a place on Network Rail’s remuneration committee but we now know she must also give prior written agreement to any change to the incentive scheme for senior managers.”