Water chief to give away quarter of bonus

Published on Monday 15 March 2010 22:09

ONE of Scotland's highest-paid public servants has announced he will donate a quarter of his bonus to charity.

Scottish Water chief executive Richard Ackroyd, whose basic salary is 263,000, said the money will go to WaterAid, which improves access to safe drinking supplies around the world.

The decision follows months of pressure from ministers on public servants to waive their bonuses to ease the burden on finances.

Mr Ackroyd said: "I have looked carefully at all the circumstances and at how people are being affected by the consequences of the downturn in the economy.

"My priority as chief executive is to ensure that Scottish Water continues to deliver increasing value for money for our customers and that objective is even more vital in the current circumstances."

The amount of money will depend on the size of his bonus, which is due to be finalised in June.

Mr Ackroyd was awarded a taxable 100,571 bonus in 2008-9, just under the maximum 40 per cent allowed. He ranks at the bottom of six UK water companies for chief executives' potential annual earnings including maximum bonuses.

Finance secretary John Swinney wrote to public sector chiefs last year urging them to give up their bonuses.

The 28 public bodies and government agencies he wrote to included Scottish Water, business development agency Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "This is a welcome step by Mr Ackroyd."