Motability boss resigns over bonus

THE boss of a taxpayer-supported business that supplies cars to people with disabilities has resigned after it emerged he is in line for a £2.2m bonus.

Motability Operations chief executive Mike Betts’ annual pay package of £1.7m was recently described as “totally unacceptable” by the Work and Pensions and Treasury committees.

But an inquiry by public spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) found he is also in line for a bonus which was worth £1.86m in September and is likely to reach about £2.2m by 2022.

The NAO accused the Motability scheme of charging customers £390m “more than was required” since 2008.

Work and Pensions Committee chairman Frank Field said: “It is beyond appalling to learn that money that could have been used to improve the lives of disabled people will be lining his pockets instead.”

A Motability Operations spokesman said Mr Betts will resign “following the implementation of actions agreed as an outcome of the NAO review”.

This will be “no later than May 2020”.