A Whitehall “rich list” of 170 civil servants who earn more than £150,0000 was revealed today as part of David Cameron’s promise of a more open government.

The list shows that former Shropshire County Council chief executive Carolyn Downs, who moved to the Ministry of Justice in January last year, earns just under £170,000 a year as its deputy permanent secretary and director general corporate performance (now interim chief executive of the legal services commission).

The names, positions and salaries of public sector officials whose take-home pay is greater than the Prime Minister’s £142,500 salary have been published online in the first step of a pledge to remove the “cloak of secrecy” from government information.

Office of Fair Trading chief executive John Fingleton, whose annual package is up to £279,999, is the top earner.

The disclosure was hailed by ministers as “just the start” of a radical move to “open up the corridors of power” and “help win back people’s trust”.

Justify

It is hoped publishing the pay and perks of senior public sector workers will force officials to become more accountable for their actions – and to justify their income and the taxpayers’ money they spend. It is also believed public pressure stemming from the revelations will help keep senior pay down in the future.

Mrs Downs, 50, was Shropshire’s chief executive for five during which time the authority became the highest performing county council in the UK.

At the Shirehall she was on a salary of £146,000 a year.

Other previously confidential government information to be made public in the coming weeks includes hospital-by-hospital infection data, Government contracts over £10,000 from September with items of central government spending over £25,000 and local government over £500 shortly afterwards.

Today’s figures reveal that not far behind Mr Fingleton are NHS chief executive David Nicholson, who earns up to £259,999.

The list shows that 24 senior civil servants earn more than £200,000, and 31 earn more than £180,000.

The top earners

• John Fingleton, chief executive of the Office of Fair Trading, £275,000 – £280,000.
• David Nicholson, NHS chief executive, £255,000  – £259,000.
• Sir Jock Stirrup, chief of the Defence Staff, £240,000 – £249,999.
• Sir Gus O’Donnell, head of the Civil Service, £235,000 – £239,999.
• Jeremy Beeton, director general of the Government’s Olympic Executive, £225,999 – £229,999.
• Lin Homer chief executive of the UK Border Agency, £205,000 – £209,000.
• Vanessa Lawrence, director general of Ordnance Survey, £190,000 – £194,999.
• Darra Singh, Job Centre chief executive, £185,000 – £189,999.
• John Hirst, chief executive of the MetOffice, £170,000 – £174,999.
• Carolyn Downs, director general of Ministry of Justice, £165,000 – £169,999.

By London Reporter Sunita Patel