Netherlands Central Bank President Nout Wellink is refusing to put a figure on the maximum percentage that bankers should be allowed as a bonus.

Mr Wellink told a hearing in the lower house that the central bank can only refer to "an appropriate reward", following the example of the European Committee. "And a variable extra of 300 percent on top of the fixed salary clearly is not appropriate." But "it is impossible to capture complex realities in a single figure," he said.

The bank president said that if politicians wanted more influence on the height of bonuses, new laws are needed.

Mr Wellink added as a personal observation that bank governors should not receive any bonuses while the crisis lasts. "The case is more complicated for bank traders, however. If they all run away to other jobs, banks have a major problem on their hands."

An investigation by the central bank revealed earlier this week that bankers bonuses had continued to be paid without restraint in 2007 and 2008. "Those are shocking findings. As supervisor, we should perhaps have intervened. But politicians did not put this onto the agenda either," according to Mr Wellink.

Netherlands Central Bank President Nout Wellink (ANP Photo)