Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to provide a performance-related pay increase to (a) nurses and (b) others working in the health and social care sectors for their work during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

We are incredibly proud of all our health and care staff who work in both National Health Service and social care settings. We are working hard to ensure that staff feel supported and safe to continue the fight against COVID-19.

We recognise their extraordinary commitment, working day and night putting our care and safety at the centre of everything they do.

Annual pay awards for NHS staff are determined by an independent transparent pay review body process.

Pay for Agenda for Change staff is already set for 2020/21 as part of the multi-year (2018/19 – 20/21) pay and contract reform deal and for junior doctors following a multi-year pay and contract reform deal agreed in June 2019 (2019/20 – 22/23).

The pay review bodies will make pay recommendations for 2020/21 for consultants and speciality doctors.

We want to ensure that the NHS employment offer continues to attract, retain and reward staff and this offer continues to be kept under review.

Social care providers determine the level of pay for their employees on an individual basis.

It is vital that we continue to attract, retain and reward NHS and care staff and we are determined to do everything we can to show that they are truly valued.