Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 6 of HM Treasury's document entitled Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published on 29 July 2024, whether it is his policy that average public sector pay excluding pension provision should equal private sector pay.

Pay for most frontline workforces - including nurses, teachers, armed forces and police officers - is set through an independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process. The PRBs 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 consider the whole remuneration package of those working in the public sector when forming their recommendations, including pensions.