Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to close the 4.9 per cent pay gap reported in 2018 between White and Black, Asian and ethnic minority consultants in the NHS.

In 2018 an independent review into the extent and causes of the gender pay gap in medicine was launched. The review, yet to be published, chaired by Professor Dame Jane Dacre is expected to make a recommendation about the need to review the pay gap in other protected characteristics. The Department is currently considering plans for a review into the ethnicity pay gap in the National Health Service.

Dialogue continues with the British Medical Association and NHS Employers to ensure all the medical contract pay, terms and conditions of service are attractive and support recruitment and retention of medical staff from all ethnic backgrounds, while enabling long term sustainability for all NHS doctors, employers and the taxpayer.

The NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard, a compulsory initiative for all NHS trusts and established in 2015, have developed a programme of work to close the gaps in experiences between black, Asian and minority ethnic and white staff, including those who aspire to develop their careers in the NHS.