Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative estimate of (a) the cost to the NHS of planned industrial action and (b) the cost of granting the pay increase demanded by NHS staff.

There is not sufficient evidence to estimate the likely cost to the National Health Service of planned industrial action and so no comparison can be made.

The Royal College of Nursing is asking for a pay rise of 5% above RPI inflation. Using November’s RPI inflation data, this would equate to a pay rise of 19.0%. Uplifting pay for all those on the same Agenda for Change contract as nurses, including other non-medical staff such as porters, paramedics, physiotherapists and cleaners, by 19% would cost £9.8 billion over and above the 2022-23 pay award recommended by the independent pay review body, and accepted in full by the Government.

Unite, Unison, GMB, whose membership bases include large numbers of paramedics and ambulance staff, and other unions have asked for a pay rise above inflation. Uplifting pay for all those on the Agenda for Change contract by either CPI or RPI inflation (10.7% and 14.0% respectively in 12 months to November), would cost approximately £4.1 billion and £6.4 billion more respectively than the 2022-23 pay award.