Bristol West MP and Liberal Democrat universities spokesman Stephen Williams has slammed the Student Loans Company for paying almost £2 million in bonuses to staff.

Ten senior executives at the company, which left thousands of students waiting for their loan and grant payments at the start of the new academic year, were handed five-figure payouts.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information act showed that SLC staff were given bonuses totalling £1,893,500 in 2008-09.

Mr Williams said: "It is absolutely outrageous that the Student Loans Company, which has acted so incompetently this year, has been paying out these massive bonuses."

The SLC said the bonus scheme structure "rewarded hardworking staff".