Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason employees contracted by the NHS are not entitled to the Agenda for Change staff level pay increases; and whether he has made an estimate of the additional funding required to provide a pay increase on that basis to those employees.

Individuals employed directly by the National Health Service on Agenda for Change contract are entitled to the pay award agreed by the NHS Staff Council on 2 May. Where the NHS contracts out services to independent providers or other local public sector organisations, it is for those employers to determine pay, terms and conditions and eligibility for pay rises.

No assessment has been made of the full cost of passing on the non-consolidated awards for 2022/23 to all staff employed by NHS contractors. An assessment has been made of the cost of passing on the consolidated award for 2023/24, and additional funding for this will be provided in the normal way.