The Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute claimed excessive personnel expenses by padding the size of its workforce in a report to the government, institute officials said Tuesday.

The institute, a foundation of the Education, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, reported in fiscal 1999 that it had a workforce of 2,676, 139 more than its actual 2,537, and used the extra money to increase employees' salaries, the officials said.

Officials explained that funds for personnel outlays allocated for the true number of its staff were insufficient to cover actual salaries and so decided to declare its peak staff strength, including those who were temporarily assigned to other bodies.

Based on the reported number of officials, the institute was allocated 23 billion yen for personnel expenses in fiscal 1999, and on average about 500,000 yen extra was paid to each of its employees, the officials said, adding that the institute is doing the same this year.