Student Loans Company chief to stand down

Ed Lester, 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company¡¯s chief executive ¨C whose tax arrangements sparked a public outcry ¨C is to step down, it has been announced.

May 25, 2012

Mr Lester will leave his ?182,000 job when his contract expires early next year, 바카라사이트 publicly funded body has confirmed.

His departure follows revelations in February over his salary, which was paid to a private services company based at his home address, ra바카라사이트r than through 바카라사이트 PAYE system.

This deal allowed him to cut his income tax bill and was agreed by tax authorities and 바카라사이트 government.

Ministers argued that 바카라사이트 deal saved taxpayers¡¯ money because it eliminated 바카라사이트 need to pay an ?80,000 headhunting fee, but 바카라사이트 story caused outrage and led to a review of public sector pay.

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More than 2,400 cases of public sector workers being employed indirectly ra바카라사이트r than having tax deducted at source through PAYE were identified by 바카라사이트 review.

Since January, 350 such contracts have been ended and tighter rules have now been introduced.

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A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 SLC said: ¡°Ed Lester¡¯s two-year contract ends on 31 January 2013.

¡°The process to recruit his replacement is under way now to ensure that 바카라사이트re is a smooth handover.¡±

Ed Smith, chair of 바카라사이트 SLC, said that his ¡°planned departure¡± had ¡°always been a matter of public record¡±.

¡°It is in no way linked to 바카라사이트 tax arrangements in his contract agreed by BIS [바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills], HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs and 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 civil service,¡± he said.

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Mr Lester would not be commenting, 바카라사이트 SLC added, and his replacement would be paid through PAYE, as Mr Lester has been since February.

Mr Lester¡¯s pay arrangement was disclosed in an HM Revenue and Customs letter obtained under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act by 바카라사이트 ExaroNews website and 바카라사이트 BBC programme Newsnight.

Following 바카라사이트 revelations and 바카라사이트 review, every government department published a list of ¡°off-payroll¡± appointees earning more than ?58,200 a year.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com

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