Hundreds of nanny state staff are paid over £100k
HUNDREDS of health workers receive six-figure sums for pushing ‘nanny state’ messages, campaigners have revealed.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance said 266 public-health staff earned more than £100,000 – a rise of more than 19 per cent on 223 three years ago.
Two of them took home more than £300,000 – more than twice the amount earned by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Public health officials working for the NHS and local councils have been involved in successfully lobbying for a sugar tax and banning junk food advertisements in London.
The Public Health England quango (PHE) has also drawn up plans to encourage the food industry to cut calories by 20 per cent. This week, it urged Britons to slash the size of their Christmas meal. It suggested one portion would include one pig in a blanket, six thin slices of turkey, five small roast potatoes and four tablespoons of gravy, with two sprouts, a few parsnips and carrots and a tiny serving of red cabbage, all washed down with 29ml of red wine.
Britain’s ten best-paid public health employees all receive at least £200,000. In 2015, three received at least £200,000.
PHE has 241 staff earning more than £ 100,000 – an increase of 42. The number of PHE employees earning over £150,000 has increased from seven to 13.
John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Over and over again we hear publichealth lobbyists call for more taxes on basic necessities without a thought for the hardpressed families who will struggle to pay for this.
‘Not only do taxpayers have to put up with this patronising nonsense, they are forced to pay for the enormous remuneration of these quangocrats.
‘Instead of allowing these nanny-staters to call the shots, the Government should stand up for families who should be free to enjoy their favourite food in peace.’
The best-remunerated public official was Lesley Mountford, director of public health for Stoke- on-Trent council. The payment of £369,579 included compensation for loss of office.
The highest paid at PHE is medical director Paul Cosford, who received £309,500, including a clinical excellence award.
Last week, the Government revealed that across Whitehall, almost 500 officials were being paid more than Mrs May.
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: ‘We have cut our costs to the taxpayer by one third since 2013. Public-health professionals are on the frontline of protecting and improving the nation’s health – from fighting diseases such as ebola and monkeypox to tackling preventable disease which costs the NHS billions every year.
‘The overwhelming majority of our staff, including our most senior team, are doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers. Their salaries incorporate merit-based NHS national clinical excellence awards.’
A Local Government Association spokesman said: ‘Councils are large organisations with sizable budgets. This includes public health. It is important that the right people with the right skills and experience are retained to deliver this work.’