Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that the Information Commissioner's Office and similar organisations do not award pay rises of more than one per cent to senior staff.

The July 2015 budget announced an average 1% pay award for public sector workforces from 2016/17. This is set out in Civil Service Pay Guidance, which is issued each year following negotiation with the Trade Unions.

Under the terms of the Framework Agreement between the ICO and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Information Commissioner has responsibility for determining the pay and conditions of his staff, including his senior staff. In doing this, he is required to comply with overarching government pay guidance, including on pay restraint.