26 November 2009

UK Government to implement Walker reforms on bank pay and governance – highest remunerations must be disclosed

Sir David Walker’s report on bank pay and governance, enabling shareholders to monitor risk taking, is to be implemented by the UK government. Investors will need to identify employees, product lines and business units generating abnormal rewards.

The Sir David Walker report on bank pay and governance, enabling shareholders to monitor risk taking, is to be implemented by the UK government,. Investors will need to identify which employees, product lines and business units generate abnormal rewards.

Sir David has toughened his original proposal requiring disclosure of the number of employees earning more than the median compensation of executive board members - estimated at about £2m. He is now pushing for an absolute disclosure threshold of £1m.

The Government will move quickly to implement the reforms of bank pay and governance proposed today by Sir David Walker.

Sir David’s review was commissioned by the Government earlier this year to explore failures of corporate governance and management.  His final report suggests a series of reforms to strengthen the role of shareholders, improve the quality of bank boards and increase transparency of pay and bonus policies.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said:

‘One of the fundamental causes of the financial crisis was bad management of some our major banks.  Too many people around board tables did not ask the right questions; some chief executives did not fully understand the risks being taken by their traders; pay and bonuses encouraged reckless risk taking instead of responsible behaviour.  Banks failed because some of the top people running banks failed to do their jobs’.

‘Tougher regulation, including stronger capital and liquidity requirements, reform of the mortgage market, greater competition, consumer protection, and living wills will help to make our system safer for the future.  But the culture of the banks themselves must change’.

‘Sir David’s proposals are the blueprint for how banks must be run in the future.  His interim report recommended changes to control bonuses that have already become part of a global standard agreed by the G20.  The Government strongly supports his recommendations and will take steps to implement them as soon as possible.’

Sir David’s report recommends action to be taken by the Government, the Financial Services Authority, the Financial Reporting Council, bank owners and the banks themselves.  For its part, the Government accepts all the recommendations and will begin immediate work to implement them.

Specifically, the Government’s Financial Services Bill will allow the Treasury to issue regulations forcing banks to disclose in bands staff numbers earning more than £1 million per annum.  It will issue draft regulations for consultation in the New Year and bring them into force as soon as practicable after enactment of the Bill.  This will force disclosure for the 2010 performance year.

Final Walker Report’s recommendations

© HM Treasury