Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Tuesday 15th September 2020

In light of the Governments recent above inflation pay awards and specific support packages relating to Covid-19 pressures there are no plans to increase pay further at this time.

The Coronavirus is the biggest threat the UK has faced in decades. Key workers have already demonstrated remarkable commitment to keeping the public safe in the continuing fight against the virus. The Government hugely values and appreciates these vital contributions to the COVID-19 response, both in the private and public sector.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has agreed specific pay and pensions packages for a number of public sector workforces, including the NHS, both to increase system capacity and recognise their work.

On the 21 July 2020, the Government accepted the recommendations of the independent Pay Review Bodies and announced a significant, real terms pay increase for around 900,000 public sector workers across nine workforces, including teachers, police officers, and doctors and dentists. For the majority, this is the third inflation busting pay rise in a row.

In addition, more than one million NHS workers continue to benefit from the three-year Agenda for Change pay deal, under which the starting pay for a newly qualified nurse has increased by over 12% since 2017/18. The Government has also agreed a pay deal that provides junior doctors with a minimum 8.2% pay rise over four years.

The UK’s economic response to COVID-19 is one of the most generous and comprehensive in the world. The Government is supporting those at work through the package of measures it has announced to protect against the current economic emergency. This includes significant changes to the operation of statutory sick pay, universal credit, and employment and support allowance, so that people have quicker and more generous access to a support system.

The Government has recently announced significantly above inflation pay awards for a large proportion of key workers, in addition to specific support packages that were agreed to address specific Covid-19 related pressures. In light of this, the Government does not have plans to increase pay further at this time.

HM Treasury

This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/307215)