Written Statements

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

Tuesday 21 July 2020

Offshore Wind Projects

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

This statement concerns the application made by Orsted Hornsea Project Three (UK) Ltd for development consent for the installation, operation and maintenance of the proposed Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm, its related offshore infrastructure off the coast of Norfolk and its related onshore electrical connections within that county.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make a decision on an application within three months of the receipt of the examining authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new deadline. Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State must make a statement to Parliament to announce it. The statutory decision deadline for Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm was reset previously to allow for further consideration of environmental issues. The latest deadline for the application was 1 July 2020.

On 1 July 2020, the Secretary of State issued a letter stating that he was minded to grant consent to the Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm but that he required further information in respect of potential adverse environmental effects on the Flamborough and Filey coast special protection area. In order to provide Orsted Hornsea Project Three (UK) Ltd with sufficient time to provide that information and for other interested parties to comment, he has decided to set a new deadline of 31 December 2020.

The decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decisions on whether to grant or refuse development consents for them.

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Beneficial Owners of Overseas Entities

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully)]

My right hon. friend the Under-Secretary of State, Minister for Climate Change and Corporate Responsibility (Lord Duncan), has today made the following statement:

The United Kingdom has a reputation as a good place to do business. Our high corporate standards and market transparency give people trust and confidence in our markets. We recognise that knowing whom you are really doing business with improves confidence in commerce and investment and we continue to work on improvements to the strong systems that we already have in place.

However, the same factors that make the UK an attractive location to set up and operate a business also make it attractive to exploitation. One such area of exploitation is the UK’s property market, which continues to be an attractive vehicle for criminal investment, in particular for high-end money laundering. The risks relating to the laundering of dirty money through property are most acute where property is owned anonymously through corporate structures or trusts. The Government are therefore working to crack down on this illicit activity by creating a register of the beneficial owners of overseas entities which own or buy property in the UK.

The Government committed in primary legislation, through section 50 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, to report to Parliament annually on the progress that has been made towards putting in place such a register. The register is included as one of the key measures of the UK’s “Economic Crime Plan 2019-22”¹, and the December 2019 Queen’s Speech included a commitment to progress the required legislation.

The draft Registration of Overseas Entities Bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee in spring 2019. The Government’s response to the Committee’s report was published on 18 July 2019². In this response, the Government accepted many of the Committee’s recommendations, such as ensuring Companies House is given adequate resources to deal with additional filings under this register; introducing a reporting facility for inaccurate information on the register; and continuing to advance work on reforming the powers of Companies House to verify information. For example, overseas entities seeking to register with Companies House will be required to have their details verified, thereby ensuring that the new register will be sufficiently robust. The Government have been exploring how best to implement these recommendations and others proposed in the Committee’s report, such as civil sanctions, and what options are available.

This register will be novel, and careful consideration is needed before any measures are adopted, as it is imperative that the register is as robust as it reasonably can be, with reliable data and sufficient deterrent effects to make it clear that the UK property market is not a safe haven for dirty money. Engagement with members of civil society, business and the property market throughout all nations of the United Kingdom has been ongoing to ensure the proposed measures work equitably across the country.

The UK continues to lead the global fight against illicit finance and this register will strengthen our already impressive controls. The Financial Action Task Force completed a landmark review of the UK’s regime for tackling money laundering in December 2018, concluding that we have some of the strongest controls in the world.

¹ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-crime- plan-2019-to-2022

² https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft- registration-of-overseas-entities-billgovernment-response-to-joint-committee-report

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Government Chemist Review

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Amanda Solloway)]

The twenty-third annual review of the Government Chemist has been received. The review will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses plus those of the devolved Administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland. The review will also be laid before the Scottish Parliament.

The Government Chemist is the referee analyst named in Acts of Parliament. The Government Chemist’s team carry out analysis in high-profile or legally disputed cases. A diverse range of referee analysis work was carried out during 2019, such as mycotoxin contaminants, pesticides residues, food contact materials, choking hazards, food allergens and genetically modified organisms dispute cases. The Government Chemist function continues to make headway on evaluating and optimising digital PCR for food authenticity testing.

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Senior Civil Service, Senior Military and Judiciary: Pay Awards

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove)]

I am today announcing the Government’s decision on pay for the senior civil service (SCS), senior military and the judiciary.

The Government received the senior salary review body’s (SSRB) report on 2020 pay for the senior civil service, senior military and the judiciary on 24 June 2020. This will be presented to Parliament and published on gov.uk.

The Government value the independent expertise and insight of the senior salaries review body (SSRB) and take on board the valuable advice and principles set out in response to the Government’s recommendations outlined in the report.

Senior civil service recommendations and response for 2020-21

The SSRB recommended a 2% pay award for the SCS allocated in the following priority order:

To mitigate anomalies arising from lack of pay progression and to alleviate other pay anomalies.

To increase the pay band minima.

To provide increase to those not benefiting from increase to the minima or those benefiting by less than 1%.

The SSRB also recommended incremental steps to reduce the maxima and commented on priority work to be undertaken for the 2021-22 pay award.

The Government accept the SSRB’s recommendations in full, but will continue to delay work on reducing the maxima until the capability based pay progression system is in place.

Judiciary recommendations and response for 2020-21

The recommendations made by the SSRB for the judiciary are:

A pay award of 2% for all judicial office holders within the remit group for 2020-21, applied equally to all salary groups.

Upper tribunal judges (including the surveyor members of the Lands Chamber) and

Senior masters and registrars to be moved to a new salary group between their existing salary group of 6.1 and the higher group 5.

The introduction of leadership allowances for circuit judges who take on the currently unrewarded roles of resident judges, designated family judges and designated civil judges.

The Government accept the SSRB’s recommendations in full and note that these recommendations are predicated on the implementation of reform of judicial pensions, to address ongoing recruitment and retention problems.

Senior military recommendations and response for 2020-21

The Government accept the SSRB’s headline pay award recommendation for senior military officers of 2-star rank and above. A 2% consolidated pay award will be implemented in September salaries and backdated to 1 April 2020.

The Government accept the SSRB’s recommendations on senior military salaries to maintain the 10% increase to base pay on promotion from 1-star rank and to not change the current pay differentials for senior medical and dental officers.

The attachment can be viewed online at: http://www. parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-07-21/HCWS411/.

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Finance Bill 2020-21: Draft Legislation and Tax Documents

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jesse Norman)]

In line with the tax policy making framework, the Government are publishing draft legislation to be included in the Finance Bill 20-21, to allow for technical consultation and provide taxpayers with predictability over future tax policy changes.



Alongside this, the Government are making announcements on tax administration, business rates, and a number of other areas of tax policy. The Government are also publishing a number of previously announced tax policy documents. Measures that come into effect immediately or retrospectively are previously announced, or are technical amendments to ensure legislation works as intended.



As announced on 28 April, the Government have extended the consultation periods for plastic packaging tax, R&D SME Tax Credit PAYE cap, construction industry scheme abuse, and notification of uncertain tax treatment by large businesses in response to the covid-19 outbreak. As a result of this extension, the Government will publish the draft legislation for these measures later in the autumn.



Reform of tax administration



The Government are announcing a roadmap for making tax digital, alongside their long-term plans for tax administration reform. These reforms are intended to make it easier to pay tax due, enhance resilience, effectiveness, and support for taxpayers.



The Government are publishing a document setting out their vision for a trusted, modern tax administration system that is fit for the 21st century and keeps pace with the many countries already operating digital tax regimes. This sets out an ambition for the tax system to work closer to real-time, improving its resilience, effectiveness and support for taxpayers.

The Government are committed to delivering a modern tax service for the UK’s increasingly digital businesses and their agents.

Digital tools and services can make it easier for businesses to keep on top of their tax affairs, and improve their productivity. Independent research commissioned by HMRC shows that businesses within MTD which fully integrate their accounting and tax software report spend less time on their tax. Micro-businesses who use software to manage their accounts have over 10% higher productivity, according to the Enterprise Research Centre.

Digital tools also reduce the scope for avoidable errors which cost the Exchequer £8.5 billion in lost revenue in 2018-19, and make the tax administration system less burdensome for those taxpayers who want to do the right thing.

The covid-19 pandemic has also highlighted the need for a more flexible, resilient and responsive tax system that provides businesses and HMRC with more up-to-date information on businesses and their finances, and enables easier identification and better targeting of taxpayer support.

The Government are therefore announcing a roadmap for HMRC’s Making Tax Digital programme. Since April 2019, most VAT-registered taxpayers with a turnover above the VAT threshold have needed to operate Making Tax Digital for their VAT returns, keeping their records digitally and updating HMRC through secure software. Over 1.4 million taxpayers are successfully using this system. This includes over 30% of VAT-registered businesses with turnover below the VAT threshold who have joined voluntarily. The Government will introduce legislation in Finance Bill 2020-21 to extend Making Tax Digital for VAT to all businesses below the VAT threshold from April 2022, to ensure every VAT-registered business takes the step to move to a modern, digital tax service.

The Government remain committed to extending Making Tax Digital to other taxes. The Making Tax Digital programme will therefore be extended through new regulations to businesses and landlords within income tax self-assessment from April 2023. This timetable allows businesses, landlords and agents time to plan, and gives software providers enough notice to bring new Making Tax Digital products to market, including free software for businesses with the simplest tax affairs. HMRC will expand its pilot service from April 2021 to allow businesses and landlords to test the full end-to-end service before the requirement to join.

The Government will also consult in the autumn on the detail of extending Making Tax Digital to incorporated businesses with Corporate Tax obligations.

A consultation response will be published setting out how the Government will amend HMRC’s civil information powers, to ensure the UK can continue to comply with international tax transparency standards.

Further policy announcements:



The Government have made a number of further policy decisions which are being announced today, relating to:



Business rates revaluation



Under current legislation, the next revaluation would take effect on 1 April 2022 based on pre-covid-19 property values as of 1 April 2019. In May 2020, the Government announced a postponement to provide greater certainty for firms affected by the impacts of covid-19.

The Government are today announcing that the next revaluation of non-domestic property in England will instead take effect on 1 April 2023. So that it better reflects the impact of covid-19, it will be based on property values as of 1 April 2021.

Small brewers relief



The Government have concluded their review of this relief. In order to support growth, boost productivity and remove “cliff-edges”, the scheme’s taper will be smoothed. It will take effect more gradually over a wider range of production, starting at 2,100 hectolitres per year, and be converted to a cash basis. A technical consultation will be brought forward in the autumn. The Government will also consult on the potential for a grace period for small breweries that decide to merge.

Post-EU exit alcohol review



The Government recognise the need to reform the current duty system to support the alcoholic drinks and pubs sector in the longer term, and will publish a call for evidence before end September 2020.

Tackling promoters of tax avoidance



Tackling promoters of tax avoidance—The Government are publishing a consultation and draft legislation on further, tougher measures to tackle those who promote and market tax avoidance schemes, as announced at spring Budget. This builds on the anti-avoidance regimes that have already been introduced by the Government, which have helped to reduce the avoidance tax gap from £3.7 billion in 2005 to 2006 to £1.7 billion in 2018 to 2019. The Government will bring forward further ambitious proposals in the autumn to strengthen their response to promoters who seek to sidestep the rules.

Employee share ownership



Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI)—The Government will legislate in Finance Bill 2020-21 to ensure that employers can issue new EMI share options to individuals who have been furloughed, have taken unpaid leave or have had their working hours reduced below EMI’s current statutory working time requirement as a result of covid-19.

Previously announced publications



The Government have published the following tax policy documents, previously announced at the spring Budget:



The business rates review call for evidence.

The call for evidence on pensions tax administration.

The consultation on the design of a carbon emissions tax.

The consultation on national insurance contributions holiday for employers of veterans.

The consultation on whether qualifying R&D tax credit costs should include investments in data and cloud computing.

The consultation on the economic crime levy.

The summary of responses to the call for evidence on the operation of insurance premium tax.

The summary of responses and Government next steps to the aggregates levy review.

The summary of responses to the non-UK resident SDLT surcharge consultation.

For other consultations, the Government are continuing to consider the responses and will respond in due course.



Technical tax changes



In addition, the Government are publishing a small number of technical tax changes, which are previously announced or provide technical easements for policy. These include measures relating to:



Changes to termination payments rules, post-employment notice pay (PENP) calculation at s. 402D(1) ITEPA 2003, and amendment of s.27 ITEPA 2003—Changes to current PENP calculation to avoid unfair outcomes if an employee’s pay period is defined in months, but the contractual notice period is expressed in weeks, and changes to ensure non-residents who receive PENP are taxed fairly.

Legislation with immediate effect



The Government have published legislation for the following measures that will have immediate or retrospective effect:



Corporate interest restriction amendments—The first amendment clarifies the way special provisions apply for real estate investment trusts; this comes into force today. The second amendment ensures that no penalties arise for the late filing of an interest restriction return where there is a “reasonable excuse”; this applies from 1 April 2017 when the CIR rules commenced.

Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) amendments—This legislation will apply retrospectively from 19 March, and is in addition to protecting existing EMI share options holders from the effects of covid-19, as legislated for in the Finance Act 2020, previous Finance Bill.

Annual Tax On Enveloped Dwellings—This measure introduces a new relief from the annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED) for housing co-operatives, those which are not publicly funded providers of social housing, which own UK residential property valued in excess of £500,000. The measure will come into effect retrospectively from 1 April 2020, allowing eligible housing co-operatives to claim a refund for the 2020-21 chargeable period.

In addition to these policy announcements, consultations and technical amendments, the Government are publishing draft legislation as announced at the spring Budget:



Benefit charge

Collective money purchases pension schemes

S4C Section 33 VATA

Conditionality: hidden economy

Draft legislation is accompanied by a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN), an Explanatory Note (EN) and, where applicable, a summary of responses to consultation document. All publications can be found on the www.gov.uk website. The Government’s tax consultation tracker has also been updated.

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Armed Forces Pay

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)]

Today I am announcing the Government’s decision on pay rises for the armed forces.

The armed forces pay review body (AFPRB) has made a recommendation for a 2% increase for the 2020 pay award. We are accepting this recommendation in full (to be implemented in September salaries, backdated to 1 April 2020), and I am today laying the 2020 report.

The pay award represents an annual increase of £643 in the nominal average salary in the armed forces (which is at the corporal level), as well as an annual increase of £545 in the starting salary for an officer.

For all cohorts, this is additional to the non-contributory defined benefit pension and access to incremental pay progression.

The AFPRB also made recommendations on rises and changes to other targeted forms of remuneration and on the increase to food and accommodation charges which have been accepted. Where applicable, these rate changes will be backdated to 1 April 2020.

The Government greatly value and appreciate the role military personnel have in delivering essential services. This year we are delivering a real-terms pay increase for the third time. The hard work and dedication of our people throughout this difficult period are important to us and not taken for granted.

We are conscious that public sector pay awards must deliver value for money for the taxpayer. The coronavirus is having a very significant impact on the economy and the fiscal position, and the Government will need to continue to take this into account in agreeing public sector pay awards.

The attachment can be viewed online at: http://www. parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-07-21/HCWS410/.

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Teachers' Pay Award

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Education (Gavin Williamson)]

The 30th report of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) is being published today. Its recommendations cover the remit issued in September 2019. The report contains recommendations on the pay award for teachers that is due to be implemented from September 2020.



The STRB has recommended a 5.5% uplift to the minima of the main pay range and a 2.75% uplift to the maxima of the main pay range and the minima and maxima of all other pay ranges and allowances in the national pay framework. These recommendations are equivalent to a 3.1% increase in the overall pay-bill.



The STRB has also recommended advisory pay points on the main pay range and upper pay range.



I am pleased to confirm my proposed response is to accept these recommendations in full.



This teachers’ pay award—the largest since 2005—helps to recognise the extraordinary efforts of our teachers and leaders. It provides for a substantial above-inflation increase to the pay ranges for all teachers and leaders.



For example, for an experienced teacher at the top of the upper pay range this pay award could mean an increase of between £1,114 and £1,364, depending on location. Furthermore, this pay award is the continuation of several years of substantial pay awards—last year all pay ranges were uplifted by 2.75% and in 2018 uplifts to pay ranges averaged at 2.4%.



Furthermore, this Government made a commitment to increase starting salaries nationally for teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23. This pay award takes the first step to delivering this commitment, with a 5.5% increase to starting salaries worth between £1,341 and £1,677 depending on location. This will mean that starting salaries for new teachers will be between £25,714 and £32,157 depending on location in the 2020-21 academic year.



These substantial increases to teacher starting pay will help ensure teaching is rightly regarded as a well-rewarded and prestigious profession, enabling us to attract the most able graduates and career changers into teaching to support improved outcomes for pupils.



This pay award also takes a decisive step towards a pay structure which better supports teacher retention, with large increases to early career pay where we know retention is most challenging. Alongside other crucial reforms such as the early career framework and new national professional qualifications, this pay award will help to ensure we are retaining great teachers through the crucial early career phase.



Finally, this pay award will be affordable, on average, nationally for schools thanks to this Government’s three-year investment package announced at the 2019 spending round. We are increasing core schools funding by £2.6 billion this year, £4.8 billion in 2021-22 and £7.1 billion in 2022-23, compared to 2019-20. As previously set out, from 2021-22 the funding schools currently receive through the teachers’ pay and pension grants will be part of schools’ core funding allocations, as determined by the schools national funding formula, and there will be no increase to these grants in respect of this year’s pay award.



A full list of the recommendations and my proposed approach for all pay and allowance ranges can be viewed online at:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questionsanswers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-07-21/HCWS402/.

My officials will write to all of the statutory consultees of the STRB to invite them to contribute to a consultation on the Government’s response to these recommendations and on a revised schoolteachers’ pay and conditions document and pay order. The consultation will last for eight weeks.

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Office for Environmental Protection: Contingency Fund Advance

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice)]

DEFRA has sought a repayable cash advance from the Contingencies Fund of £215,000.



The requirement has arisen because there is an urgent requirement to proceed with setting up the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) in advance of Royal Assent of the Environment Bill.



Under managing public money rules, expenditure to make preparation for the delivery of a new service prior to Royal Assent requires an advance from the Contingencies Fund. The cash advance will pay for essential set up expenditure on public appointments, minimal staff recruitment to begin, and essential services that are needed for establishing for the OEP. The need to spend now in advance of Royal Assent is driven by the necessary timelines associated with recruitment, procurement and set up which are expected to take several months. This will ensure that the OEP can be brought into operation and begin exercising its statutory functions as soon as practical after Royal Assent of the Environment Bill.



Parliamentary approval for additional resources of £215,000 for this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £215,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

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NHS Pay Review Body: Government Response

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Minister for Care (Helen Whately)]

I am responding on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the 33rd report of the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB). The report has been laid before Parliament today (Cm260). Copies of the report are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.

As this is the third and final year of the three-year Agenda for Change pay and contract reform deal (2018-19 to 2020-21), the NHSPRB did not make any pay recommendations for 2020-21.

This multi-year deal has delivered year-on-year pay increases for our much valued NHS staff, and as part of this we have increased the starting salary for a newly qualified nurse by over 12% and increased the lowest starting salary within the NHS by over 16%.

The Government welcome the 33rd report of the NHSPRB and are grateful to the chair and members for all their work and helpful observations at what is a challenging time for our NHS. The report rightly recognises the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff in responding to the covid-19 pandemic, and makes helpful observations on effective workforce planning and how best to support the development of the NHS workforce.

The upcoming People Plan will seek to address many of the observations made by the NHSPRB, and the Government remain committed to delivering on their manifesto commitment to deliver 50,000 more nurses in the NHS by 2025.

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Doctors and Dentists Remuneration Body: Government Response

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Minister for Care (Helen Whately)]

I am responding on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the 48th report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration (DDRB). The report has been laid before Parliament today (Cm259). I am grateful to the chair and members of the DDRB for their report.



This report has been produced during what is an incredibly challenging time for our NHS and the DDRB report rightly recognises the tremendous effort of all of our clinical staff on the frontline of the covid-19 response. They have shown true resolve, professionalism and dedication throughout this challenging time for our NHS.



Thanks to the Government’s investment in the NHS and the certainty provided in the long-term funding settlement, the Government are pleased to accept the DDRB’s recommendations in full, providing a much deserved pay rise for our doctors and dentists working across the NHS.



The Government greatly value and appreciate the role public sector workers have in delivering essential public services, and we are delivering a real-terms pay increase to show that we mean it. The hard work and dedication of our public servants are something we do not take for granted.



We are conscious that public sector pay awards must deliver value for money for the taxpayer. Covid-19 is having a very significant impact on the economy and the fiscal position, and the Government will need to continue to take this into account in agreeing public sector pay awards. It is important that public sector pay is fair to both public sector workers and the taxpayer. Around a quarter of all public spending is spent on pay and we need to ensure that our public services remain affordable for the future.



Today’s pay award is worth on basic pay:



Between £2,200 and £3,000 for consultants

Between £1,100 and £2,100 for specialty doctors

Between £1,500 and £2,600 for associate specialists

This Government have invested heavily in our NHS and its workforce. We have backed the NHS by passing the NHS Funding Act which enshrines in law the largest cash settlement in NHS history as well as clearing billions of pounds worth of debt for NHS trusts. We also pledged that all public services would get whatever financial support they needed to deal with the covid-19 pandemic and we are working at pace to ensure the supply of vital funding and resources continues. We have also delivered on a manifesto commitment to address the tax issue in doctors’ pensions by listening closely to the concerns of senior clinicians. The Chancellor confirmed at Budget that both annual allowance taper thresholds will be increased by £90,000 from 6 April 2020, removing anyone with income below £200,000 from the scope of the tapered annual allowance. The incentive to take on extra NHS work is now restored, and clinicians can earn an additional £90,000 before reaching the new taper threshold. These measures will take up to 96% of GPs and 98% of NHS consultants outside the scope of the taper based on their NHS income.



The DDRB was asked not to make a pay recommendation for contractor general medical practitioners (GMPs) or doctors and dentists in training as both groups are moving into the second year of their respective multi-year deals. The significant investment in GMP core practice funding, as part of the five-year contract, provided greater certainty for GMPs to forward plan. The contract as agreed in 2019, and via further amendments in 2020, has also set out significant additional investment in a new state-backed indemnity scheme, the introduction of primary care networks and reimbursement for additional staff. For doctors and dentists in training the multi-year deal will mean all junior doctor pay scales will have increased by 8.2% by the end of the deal, and in addition circa £90 million is being invested to reform the contract, including to create a new, higher pay point to recognise the most experienced doctors in training.



Affordability has to be a consideration of Government when responding to the DDRB. Accepting the DDRB’s recommendations will require difficult trade-offs and reprioritisation of spending within the wider context of the original financial plan set out in the NHS long-term plan. However, the Government deem accepting the DDRB’s recommendations as important to reward and retain valued NHS staff.



In addition to retaining existing staff, the Government are committed to increasing workforce supply. That is why by September this year we will have opened five new medical schools in England so that we can continue to grow our domestic medical workforce. The new schools will help to deliver a 25% increase in the number of available places and by September we expect there will be an extra 1,500 medical students entering training each year, compared to 2017.



The Government’s response to the recommendations is as follows:



Accept the recommendation for a uniform 2.8% uplift in pay across the whole of the DDRB’s remit group with the exception of those already in multi-year deals. This includes uplifting the value of the GMP trainers grant, the GMP appraisers’ grant and the minimum and maximum of the pay range for salaried GMPs.

To accept the recommendation to freeze the value of national and local clinical excellence awards (CEAs), commitment awards, distinction awards and discretionary points.

Salaried GMPs

For salaried GMPs the minimum and maximum pay range will be uplifted. As self-employed contractors, it is largely up to GP practices how they distribute pay to their employees. Employers have the flexibility to offer enhanced terms and conditions—for example, to aid recruitment and retention.



Specialty doctors (new grade 2008) and associate specialists (closed grade)



For specialty doctors and associate specialists (SAS doctors) the Government take note of the DDRB’s comments on the need for improved recognition and career development. Negotiations on a multi-year pay agreement, incorporating contract reform, for this group of doctors are progressing and we hope to reach agreement in time for the next pay year.



Clinical excellence awards



The Government also acknowledge the DDRB’s comments on clinical excellence awards and its reasons for not recommending an increase in their value. With this in mind, we will progress our plans to reform these awards with a view to introducing new arrangements from 2022.



General dental practitioners



A 2.8% general uplift in the pay element of their contract backdated to April 2020.



The Government have also fully acknowledged the DDRB’s comments on the lack of progress on the dental contract reform and we appreciate the frustration with the pace of reform. NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care need to be confident that the prototype contract, which has been tested, has proven that it has the ability to maintain or increase access, improve oral health, and is affordable for the NHS while also being sustainable for dental practices, before taking decisions on wider national implementation.

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National Crime Agency Pay Award

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel)]

The National Crime Agency (NCA) Remuneration Review Body has recently made recommendations on pay and allowances for NCA officers designated with operational powers. I would like to thank the Chair and members of the review body for their work on gathering evidence from the NCA, the Home Office, HMT and the trade unions, resulting in their detailed and thorough report. The review body’s work is of great value, ensuring that officers of a lower grade than deputy director designated with operational powers are properly remunerated for their work.

This Government are committed to helping the NCA in its fight against serious and organised crime (SOC). That is why they commissioned an independent review of SOC capabilities, funding and governance and why they committed to strengthening the NCA in their election manifesto.

SOC is evolving rapidly in both volume and complexity. I have been clear that the NCA needs to transform to meet the threat head on. Part of this transformation includes being able to attract, recruit and retain the right people. This review body’s recommendations help support the NCA to achieve that goal and are as follows:

For officers on the standard ranges:

the pay range minima for grades 1 to 4 increase by 2.5%;

the pay range minima for grades 5 and 6 increase by 4.25% and 4.5% respectively;

the pay range maxima for grades 1 to 6 increase by 1.5%;

and all officers should receive a consolidated pay award that maintains their percentile position on the pay range.

The spot rates for grades 4 and 5 are increased by 3% and 4.5% respectively.

London weighting allowance is increased by 2.5% to £3,424

Shift allowance is increased to 20% of base pay.

These awards will be fully funded within the NCA’s existing budget. The small number of officers electing to remain on the terms and conditions of pre-cursor organisations will remain on their previous pay rates.

This award represents a significant real terms increase, the third year in a row where this is the case. The average salary at the NCA is £36,794, this is up by 4.3% since 2018.

The Government continue to balance the need to ensure fair pay for public sector workers with protecting funding for frontline services and ensuring affordability for taxpayers. The effects of coronavirus continue to have a significant impact on the economy and the fiscal position and the Government will need to continue to take this into account in agreeing public sector pay awards.

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Police Pay

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel)]

The sixth annual report of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) was published today. The body made recommendations on pay and allowances for police officers up to and including the chief officer ranks in England and Wales. We value the role of the independent PRRB and thank the Chair and members for their detailed consideration and observations of the matters raised in relation to police pay.



The Government are extremely grateful for the commitment shown by our police officers up and down the country, in keeping the public safe during these unprecedented and challenging times.



The Government have accepted in full the PRRB’s recommendation that a consolidated increase of 2.5% should be awarded to all ranks at all pay points, with a corresponding increase to London weighting and the dog handlers’ allowance, with effect from 1 September 2020.



The PRRB also recommended the removal of the lowest point of the sergeants’ pay scale; and that the maximum rate of London allowance should increase by £1,000 to £5,338 a year for officers appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and not receiving replacement allowance. The Government have accepted these recommendations. These changes will take effect from 1 September 2020.



This is the second year in a row that we have awarded an increase of 2.5% for our police officers and delivers an above inflation increase. Police constables will earn up to £1,002 more this year.



The Government hold in the highest regard the role that public sector workers have in delivering essential public services and we are awarding a real terms pay increase. The hard work and dedication of our public servants throughout this difficult period is something we do not take for granted.



The Government continue to balance the need to ensure fair pay for public sector workers with protecting funding for frontline services and ensuring affordability for taxpayers. The effects of coronavirus continue to have a significant impact on the economy and the fiscal position and the Government will need to continue to take this into account in agreeing public sector pay awards.

[HCWS404]

Security Industry Authority: Annual Report and Accounts

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Victoria Atkins)]

The 2019-20 Annual Report and Accounts for the Security Industry Authority (HC647) is being laid before the House today and published on www.gov.uk. Copies will be available in the Vote Office.

[HCWS406]

Prison Service Pay Review Body: Government Response

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Robert Buckland)]

I am today announcing the Government’s decision on pay rises for prison staff.

The Prison Service pay review body (PSPRB) has made its recommendations for the 2020-21 pay award. The Government value the independent expertise and insight of the PSPRB and take on board the valuable advice, principles outlined, and constructive challenge to the Government’s evidence outlined in the report.

Today I am announcing that we are accepting in full the recommendations made by the review body for implementation from April 2020. For clarity these are recommendations 1, 2 and 4 to 7.

This will deliver a pay rise of at least 2.5% for all prison staff—with cumulative awards of up to 7.5% for some staff when progression pay is taken into account. For a band 3 prison officer on the modern terms and conditions the pay settlement is worth on average £1,086.

This is the third year in a row that we have put in place an award of at least 2% for our prison staff and delivers an above-inflation increase. In addition to their pay, prison officers continue to benefit from defined benefit pensions, which are amongst the most generous available. We are conscious that public sector pay awards must deliver value for money for the taxpayer. Government will continue to take this into account in agreeing public sector pay awards in future.

This award will support the recruitment and retention of prison officers and managers and recognises the essential contribution they make every day—which has only been highlighted by their professional and dedicated response to the unique challenges of delivering safe prisons during the pandemic.

In addition to its core recommendations to be implemented from April 2020, the PSPRB has also recommended a further overall increase of £3,000 for “band 3” prison officers on modernised terms and conditions from September 2020 (recommendation 3).

It is only right that such a substantial increase for our largest staffing group is considered more carefully over the coming months as we move towards the spending review; due to the exceptional costs associated with implementing this recommendation, the impact on the overall pay structure, and the changing labour market conditions due to the exceptional economic impacts of the pandemic. The Government will also need to consider the recommendation in the context of the pay rises being given to other hard-working public servants.

Furthermore, we wish to open discussions with recognised trade unions on the implications of this recommendation and how any such uplift in pay might be best implemented in an affordable and mutually beneficial manner alongside workforce reforms that deliver the best value for money for taxpayers.

The Government will therefore announce their response to this recommendation later in the year.

The report has been laid before Parliament today and a copy can be found online. I am grateful to the chair and members of the review body for their report.

The report can be viewed online at: http://www. parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-07-21/HCWS408/.

[HCWS408]

Intelligence and Security Committee: Publication of the Russia Report

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)]

The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) has today laid before Parliament a report on Russia, examining the Russian threat to the UK and the UK’s response. I welcome the report and thank the former Committee for the work that has gone into this; this has clearly been an extensive effort spanning almost two years.



The Government are publishing their response to the ISC’s Russia report immediately, recognising the significant public interest in the issues it raises. Copies of the response have been laid before both Houses.



The Committee has also today laid before Parliament its annual report 2018-19. This report highlights the breadth of the Committee’s oversight role and I thank them for their important work.



I would like to thank the former Committee for their work in the last Parliament, and I look forward to working with the newly appointed Committee in the future.

[HCWS403]

Office for Nuclear Regulation: Corporate Plan and Strategy

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies)]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Baroness Stedman-Scott, has made the following written statement.

Later today I will lay before this House the Office for Nuclear Regulation Corporate Plan 2020-21 and the Office for Nuclear Regulation strategy 2020-25. These documents will also be published on the ONR website.

I can confirm, in accordance with schedule 7, Section 25(3) of the Energy Act 2013, that there have been no exclusions to the published documents on the grounds of national security.

[HCWS412]