Chris Leslie MP, Labour’s Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, responding to BBC Newsnight reports this evening suggesting that Danny Alexander and David Willetts approved the Chief Executive Officer of the Student Loans Company’s contract, said:

Ministers are under pressure to explain why they allowed a top civil servant to be paid his salary through a company, allowing him significantly to reduce his tax bill

Michael Deacon watches Danny Alexander face questions on the peculiar pay arrangements of Ed Lester, head of the Student Loans Company.

Shabana Mahmood MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Higher Education, has written to David Willetts following the Urgent Question which took place in the House of Commons this morning on the pay and tax arrangements for the Chief Executive of the Student Loans Company. Following her letter, she added:

Sir David Higgins becomes latest figure at centre of bonus row, with company set to approve plan to give 60pc of salary as bonus.

A BBC Newsnight investigation reveals that the Student Loans Company's chief executive Ed Lester received his £182,000 pay package without deductions for tax or National Insurance.

The head of the Student Loans Company will have tax and National Insurance payments deducted from his £182,000 pay package in future, ministers say.

Owen Smith MP, Labour's Shadow Exchequer Secretary, said in response to reports about the pay and tax arrangements of the chief executive of the Student Loans Company:

European Commission says tie-up would stifle competition despite claims combined company would be a ‘European champion’

Chief executive confirms company is selling homes it bought on proposed route amid coalition commitment to block new runways