Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle pay disparities between senior executives and staff at pay bands one to eight at Highways England.

I would like to reassure you that the Secretary of State is placing significant focus on pay in the Department’s arm’s length bodies including Highways England. Responsibility for setting pay levels within Highways England sits with the company, overseen by its Remuneration Committee. HE manages pay in accordance with public sector pay guidance from Cabinet Office, and a framework set by the Department for Transport, which places controls on the numbers and pay of the highest paid staff.

The company’s approach to pay aims to strike the right balance between value for money and building and maintaining the organisational capability required to operate the strategic road network and deliver DfT’s investment programmes.

The 2019 pay awards for all HE employees, including those at the senior level, were based on 1%; however, following recently completed negotiations between the company and the Trade Unions, an additional, backdated award is being made which will mean that employees below senior level will receive awards for 2019 based on a total of 2%. This will mean that using HE’s approach to pay review individuals will receive awards in the range 1.5% to 4% for 2019/20.