Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Government's news story, Around one million public sector workers to get pay rise, published on 24 July 2018, whether probation officers will receive a pay increase; and if he will make a statement.

Our probation staff do a vital and challenging job reforming offenders and protecting the public.

We have paid the contractual increase for probation staff below the top of their pay band, but have not been able to offer a pay increase for those staff who are already at the top of their pay band.

To help to address the current situation, HMPPS is working closely with the probation trade unions to look at modernising the NPS pay structures and policies.

Any announcement on the pay modernisation and pay increases after the negotiations are complete would be jointly made by HMPPS and the NPS trade unions.