BARCLAYS handed out £1.5 billion in bonuses to investment bankers for last year — although the lender slashed the pot by 32 per cent amid mounting pressure over the controversial payouts.

Providing more disclosure on bonuses in its annual results than ever before, the bank said the average bonus for staff at investment arm Barclays Capital was cut by 30 per cent to £64,000 in 2011 while the group total bonus pool was down 25 per cent at £2.2 billion.

However, chief executive Bob Diamond refused to be drawn on questions about his own bonus.