Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps he has taken to support prison officers with the cost of living.

In October 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that public sector pay will return to a normal pay setting process.

Prison Officer pay is governed by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). We submitted our evidence to the PSPRB on 23 February.

Our pay proposals for 2022/23 provide at least a 2% increase in pay for all prison officers with targeted increases for our lowest paid staff, with a proposed £1,500 increase in base pay for Operational Support Grades and a c.10% increase in the starting salary for new prison officers.

The evidence will now be considered by the PSPRB. Following their recommendations, the Government will announce the 2022/23 pay award later in the year.