Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the his Department's news story entitled, Pay rises for doctors, police and more in the public sector, published on 21 July 2020, for what reasons the fire service was not included in the list of public sector professions to receive a pay rise.

The pay awards announced on 21 July 2020 are for workforces covered by Pay Review Bodies (PRBs) which are; the armed forces, teachers, police officers, the National Crime Agency, prison officers, doctors and dentists, the Judiciary, senior civil servants and senior military personnel.

Pay awards for firefighters are agreed independently of this process by the National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (NJC) which includes representatives of employers, devolved administrations and unions.