Friday 2 July 2010

NDA chief on quango rich list

The chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Tony Fountain earns up to £369,999 a year.

Mr Fountain is one of eight NDA staff on a list published today by the government which reveals the six-figure salaries of quango workers.

Mr Fountain's salary is £25,000 less than the highest sum on the list, the £394,999 paid to Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins.

And his salary is £190,000 more than the next highest-paid NDA employee, chairman Stephen Henwood, who earns £200,000 - £204,999.

The NDA last month began a consultation process with its staff regarding a proposed restructure of the organisation, which will result in a reduction of around 30% of the NDA's current staff of just under 300.

The highest paid Ofgem staffer on the quango list is chief executive Alistair Buchanan, who takes home £205,000 - £209,999, while the Environment Agency workers are chief executive Paul Leinster (£195,000 - £199,999), director of operations David Jordan (£165,000 - £169,999), director of resources Graham Ledward (£150,000 - £154,999), and EA chairman Lord Chris Smith (£105,000 - £109,999).

The list also includes Department of Energy and Climate Change permanent secretary Moira Wallace, the only DECC staffer on the list, who earns between £165,000-£169,999 a year.