Cabinet Office minister John Glen has sent a strong signal that the government will be pushing for a new era of pay restraint for members of the Senior Civil Service next year.
In his remit letter to the Senior Salaries Review Body, Glen stressed the extent to which the 2023-24 offer – worth a minimum of 5.5% to senior officials – had been a response to unprecedented economic developments over the past two years, including double-digit inflation.
He called on the SSRB, which will consider evidence over the coming months before making recommendations for top officials’ 2024-25 pay rises, to ensure the “historic nature” of this year’s award is properly factored into proposals for next year’s pay rises.
In his letter to SSRB chair Pippa Lambert, Glen said ministers valued the review body’s work and its “important role” in providing independent and evidence-based recommendations. But he also sent a clear call for restraint to the SSRB and other pay review bodies.
“In 2023-24, the PRBs recommended historically high pay awards for their respective workforces in light of the extraordinary macroeconomic context,” he said.
“Accepting these recommendations, whilst not increasing borrowing, required tough decisions. It is vital that the PRBs consider the historic nature of the 2023-24 awards and the government’s affordability position that will be set out further in written evidence.”
While the pay uplift for members of the SCS was higher than the 4.5%-5% awarded to rank and file civil servants – who are not covered by a pay review body – senior civil servants did not get the one-off £1,500 cost-of-living payment that more junior officials benefited from.
Members of the SCS also saw their pay increased by less than other public employees whose remuneration is guided by pay review bodies.
Police and prison officers were offered a 7% rise, based on the recommendation of their pay-review body, while teachers and junior doctors were offered 6%.
In 2022, ministers rejected the SSBB’s recommendation that SCS members should receive a 3% pay rise, and instead imposed a 2% uplift.
Analysis by think tank the Institute for Government earlier this year found that SCS pay had decreased by 26% in real terms since 2010.
Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary at the FDA union – which represents civil service leaders, said Glen’s letter was concerning at a time when the real-terms value of SCS pay was decreasing significantly and turnover was at record levels across the civil service.
“Our evidence submitted to the Senior Salaries Review Body from last year revealed that 41% of senior civil servants said they were looking for a job outside the civil service, and 93% of senior civil servants said they don’t feel that the reward framework is fit for purpose,” she said.
“Pay in the civil service is now so dysfunctional and broken, it’s naïve to think that these systemic issues were resolved by last year’s pay award. What is necessary is a longer-term strategy to ensure that the civil service can recruit and retain the talent and skills it needs.”
Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of the Prospect union – which represents professionals in the civil service, said it was “ludicrous” for the government to suggest that further pay austerity was a solution in the face of issues being by departments.
“Staff deserve better and if the civil service is to recruit and retain the talented and skilled staff it needs for the future, fundamental reform is needed,” he said.
“Yet again the civil service is being treated as the poor relation to both the private sector and other parts of the public sector in terms of pay.”
The government has yet to submit its evidence on Senior Civil Service pay to the SSRB.
Glen said the submission would include ministers’ “strategic priorities for the SCS workforce” when it is made.