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Details of the obscene sum paid to the head of French firm Atos come as David Cameron draws up draconian new welfare cuts.

The fatcat boss of a firm hired to help slash the benefits bill has won a bonus of nearly £​1million.

Thierry Breton’​s bumper payout means he pocketed more than £​1.9million last year.

Details of the obscene sum paid to the head of French firm Atos come as David Cameron draws up draconian new welfare cuts.

Atos was brought in to reassess 2.5 million people on ­​incapacity benefit to help the ­​Department for Work and Pensions decide whether they are fit to work.

Mr Breton received his massive pay out despite mounting numbers of successful appeals by people ordered to get a job after being tested by the firm.

Heart attack and lung disease victims are among those judged to be well enough to work.

Some 3,100 claimants had appeals upheld in May 2011, up from 900 in the same month in 2010, the latest figures show.

On average almost two in five, 38%, challenged decisions are overturned at tribunal, nearly one in 10 of all those made.

And the appeals system costs taxpayers tens of millions of pounds to administer.

Labour MP Tom Greatrex says Mr Breton’​s bonus will “​sicken”​ those put through the reassessment ordeal.

The Atos chief’​s latest payment comes on top of wages and perks totalling £​1.83million in 2010.

It was revealed in its recent annual report in which it boasts about its “​excellent service”​.

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