THE scale of the compensation culture gripping Whitehall is disclosed today.

Civil servants are being awarded thousands of pounds for everyday mishaps, according to an investigation.

In one case, a mandarin received Pounds 60,000 for tripping on his office steps - while another was paid Pounds 15,000 after breaking a wrist at a work sports day. The Ministry of Defence had one of the biggest bills - paying out more than Pounds 63million last year.

Among the awards was Pounds 31,000 for an 80-year-old woman who broke her wrist after being blown over by a low-flying Chinook helicopter, and Pounds 4,000 for a member of staff who fell over after being rugby-tackled by her boss during a teambuilding exercise.

Details of the payouts

come two weeks after the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, unveiled a new Bill to end such awards - warning that they are creating a "culture of fear".

The Government has vowed to crack down on unfounded claims, saying that individuals should not expect payouts for every misfortune. Official records released to an MP today show Whitehall departments are among the biggest victims.

Many of the claims to the Ministry of Defence were to servicemen and women injured on the battlefield or during training. However, a large chunk of the bill was for successful claims by MoD civilian workers and members of the public. Cases highlighted in the department's Claims Annual Report include the payout to the employee felled by her boss after completing an obstacle course.

The report says: "While completing the course, the claimant's superior jumped out from behind a pillar and rugbytackled her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a pillar."

In another case, a serviceman complained of suffering post traumatic stress after a difficult diving exercise.

He initially demanded 1.5million compensation, claiming he had been planning a career as a commercial diver. He claimed the accident had robbed him of huge potential earnings. He eventually settled for Pounds 77,500.

In a third case, an employee won Pounds 285,000 after a bungled vasectomy at an MoD medical clinic. His wife became pregnant after the operation. Details of the payments were uncovered by Tory MP John Hayes.

He said: "I wanted to find out the scale of the problem. Obviously, each case requires individual investigation, but in an age of compensation culture, it is important that we hold the Government to account."

The MoD was able to recoup