Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook March 2022, what assessment his Department has made of the length of time that can sustain a fall in real earnings in the public sector.

The Government recognises that public sector workers play a vital role in the running of our economy, and in delivering our world class public services.

Spending Review 2021 confirmed that public sector workers will see pay rises across the whole Spending Review period (22/23-24/25).

Pay for most frontline workforces - including nurses, teachers and armed forces - is set through an independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process. They will consider a range of evidence when forming their recommendations, including the need to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified people; the financial circumstances of government; the government’s policies for improving public services; and the government’s inflation target. They will consider the whole remuneration package of those working in the public sector when forming their recommendations, including substantially more generous pensions.

The Government will carefully consider all recommendations from the Pay Review Bodies once their final reports are submitted.