Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for (i) his Department and (ii) agencies of his Department are paid less than the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not directly employ anyone whose salary is less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

All CPS contracts, including those for agency staff and outsourced services, require suppliers to adhere to applicable legislation, including National Minimum Wage Regulations. The CPS does not stipulate that suppliers and agencies must pay the living wage rate as calculated by the Living Wage Foundation.

Suppliers of outsourced services and agencies are responsible for setting rates of pay and actual rates of pay are dependent on location and market rates. The CPS does not hold information on individual rates of pay for contractor staff and therefore it is unable to provide or estimate the number of contractor staff paid less than the national living wage as defined be the Living Wage Foundation.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO), the Government Legal Department (GLD) and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) pay all direct employees, agency staff and outsourced staff more than the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Currently fewer than five employees of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) are paid less than the London Living Wage. No agency staff employed by the SFO are paid less than the London Living Wage. The SFO is not responsible for the pay rates of staff engaged by service providers, and does not hold complete information on their remuneration.