Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Prison Service Pay Review Body 2021 report on England and Wales, published on 19 October 2021, what estimate he has made of the real terms change in basic pay for directly employed prison staff, for each pay band, between financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

The Government’s response to the Prison Service Pay Review Body’s 20th report (2021/22) was announced on 19 October.

In accordance with the public sector pay pause, the prison pay award for this year means that staff earning a basic full-time national equivalent salary of less than £24,000 (excluding allowances) will receive an uplift of £250 (or uplift to the National Living Wage if higher).

In addition to this, all staff below the top of their pay band, and who are eligible, will receive progression pay worth up to 5%. Over half of prison service staff will receive an increase under this year’s pay award.

The exact percentage increase an individual receives depends on their individual terms and conditions, grade, location and position within the pay band.