Two minor points - one, the MOD is the title of the Department which encompasses the three services and the CS. Your thing should read 'the civil service'
It comes out of MOD funding.
Secondly - its not a bonus, its the non consolidated element of the pay award, payment of which is designed to reduce the long term CS pension bill. A subtle, but very important difference. The CS didnt ask for it, dont want it, and would lose it tomorrow if they could. It exists purely as a means to save money.
Ah! so the Telegraph is lying then:
"One senior civil servant was awarded an £85,831 bonus on top of their six-figure salary - at the same time as members of the armed forces have been subject to a two-year pay freeze and 20,000 are to be made redundant.
The bonuses have been paid since April last year and have seen more than 55,000 officials awarded extra payments for their performance - out of a payroll of 83,000."
The rest of the
article is equally damaging, but you recon it's not true so that's ok then.
If it's awarded for performance it's a bonus.