Public Sector Pay Cap (NHS)

The Office of Budget Responsibility estimates that overall, the public sector pay cap has protected 200,000 public sector jobs, enabling a continuity in vital services. I am assured that the Government are listening to calls for a change in policy, and to that end the independent public sector pay review bodies are currently working through proposals on pay to bring to the Government, and the Government will respond accordingly. The Treasury will also be sending letters to pay review bodies this Autumn to set out their remits.

There are MPs from all parties who are in favour of seeing the public sector pay cap lifted, but this has to be worked through and properly costed, and ultimately, this issue is a matter for the budget which sets Government policy.

Looking ahead to the budget later this Autumn, I am pleased to see news reports suggest that the public sector pay cap will be gradually removed. Of course we must wait for the full details, however I am assured that this is a step in the right direction to delivering fairness for public sector workers and taxpayers alike.

We are truly indebted to our frontline public sector workers in the NHS, and I understand that after many years of pay freezes, people feel that they deserve a pay rise. While pay has to be fair to our public servants, it must be fair to everyone who pays for them through their taxes too.