This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-16901587
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Network Rail bonuses can be blocked, Labour insists | Network Rail bonuses can be blocked, Labour insists |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Labour has urged ministers to block six-figure bonuses for Network Rail bosses, insisting they have the power to prevent such payouts. | Labour has urged ministers to block six-figure bonuses for Network Rail bosses, insisting they have the power to prevent such payouts. |
| It said ministers had to give written approval to any changes to payments. | It said ministers had to give written approval to any changes to payments. |
| The transport secretary said on Sunday she would vote against a plan to give Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins a reported £340,000 bonus. | The transport secretary said on Sunday she would vote against a plan to give Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins a reported £340,000 bonus. |
| But Justine Greening also told the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019cdnd" >BBC's Sunday Politics the vote at the company's AGM would not be binding. | |
| Network Rail, which owns most of the rail network infrastructure in Britain, plans to reduce annual bonuses to a maximum of 60% of annual salary but allow longer term bonuses of up to 500% after five years. | Network Rail, which owns most of the rail network infrastructure in Britain, plans to reduce annual bonuses to a maximum of 60% of annual salary but allow longer term bonuses of up to 500% after five years. |
| The government said the management incentive plan being proposed did not require its say-so, whereas a change in the incentive policy would. | The government said the management incentive plan being proposed did not require its say-so, whereas a change in the incentive policy would. |
| The Department of Transport (DfT) was unable to explain the difference between the two. | The Department of Transport (DfT) was unable to explain the difference between the two. |
| BBC chief political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said a source had told the BBC that the government would nominate someone to sit on Network Rail's remuneration committee before it makes its final decision in the spring. | BBC chief political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said a source had told the BBC that the government would nominate someone to sit on Network Rail's remuneration committee before it makes its final decision in the spring. |
| Network Rail has said that "no decision" had been made on bonuses. | Network Rail has said that "no decision" had been made on bonuses. |
| 'In this together' | 'In this together' |
| Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said her party had "discovered" the requirement for the DfT to give written approval for any payment and that it could sit on a five-person remuneration committee. | Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said her party had "discovered" the requirement for the DfT to give written approval for any payment and that it could sit on a five-person remuneration committee. |
| She said: "Justine Greening is wrong to say that she cannot block these bonuses. | She said: "Justine Greening is wrong to say that she cannot block these bonuses. |
| "Not only does the secretary of state have a place on Network Rail's remuneration committee, but we now know that she must also give prior written agreement to any change to the incentive scheme for senior managers." | "Not only does the secretary of state have a place on Network Rail's remuneration committee, but we now know that she must also give prior written agreement to any change to the incentive scheme for senior managers." |
| She said that the government had to "come clean" on whether written permission had been given as it was "difficult to see why Network Rail would have felt able to propose this new bonus package without knowing it had ministerial backing". | She said that the government had to "come clean" on whether written permission had been given as it was "difficult to see why Network Rail would have felt able to propose this new bonus package without knowing it had ministerial backing". |
| Ms Eagle added: "It is misleading of the DfT to suggest it is just one vote out of more than 100 when it is in fact one of five people on Network Rail's remuneration committee and the only one providing £4bn of funding to the industry. Being critical is no longer enough. | Ms Eagle added: "It is misleading of the DfT to suggest it is just one vote out of more than 100 when it is in fact one of five people on Network Rail's remuneration committee and the only one providing £4bn of funding to the industry. Being critical is no longer enough. |
| "Times have changed and failing to use the powers that ministers have will show just how out of touch they are with public opinion when we are supposed to all be in this together." | "Times have changed and failing to use the powers that ministers have will show just how out of touch they are with public opinion when we are supposed to all be in this together." |
| Labour set up Network Rail in 2002 as a replacement for the bust Railtrack. | Labour set up Network Rail in 2002 as a replacement for the bust Railtrack. |
| The company has been criticised for its performance. | The company has been criticised for its performance. |
| More than 20 MPs have signed a House of Commons motion saying Network Rail had been "found by the Office of Rail Regulation to be in breach of its licence" and had been responsible for "major asset failures, congested routes and poor management of track condition". | More than 20 MPs have signed a House of Commons motion saying Network Rail had been "found by the Office of Rail Regulation to be in breach of its licence" and had been responsible for "major asset failures, congested routes and poor management of track condition". |
| Network Rail has admitted health and safety breaches over the deaths of two teenagers killed at a level crossing. | Network Rail has admitted health and safety breaches over the deaths of two teenagers killed at a level crossing. |
| Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, were hit by a train in 2005 as they crossed the tracks at Elsenham station footpath crossing in Essex. | Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, were hit by a train in 2005 as they crossed the tracks at Elsenham station footpath crossing in Essex. |
| The firm also faces prosecution over the 2007 Grayrigg train crash in Cumbria in which one passenger died. | The firm also faces prosecution over the 2007 Grayrigg train crash in Cumbria in which one passenger died. |