Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to align the pay of civil servants in England, Scotland and Wales to the level of pay of civil servants employed in Scotland.

Civil service pay, excluding the Senior Civil Service, is delegated to departments and to the Devolved Administrations.

For 2019/20, government departments have flexibility to make average pay settlements of up to 2%, depending on their workforce requirements and affordability. Any department wishing to pay an award above 2% is able to submit a business case to HM Treasury and Cabinet Office for ministerial approval. Departments are also able to meet the costs of increases to the National Living Wage outside of the 2%.

MPs’ pay is set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which is independent from government.