Senior Civil Service pay awards inadequate - 7 February 2003

Pay awards announced for Senior Civil Servants are inadequate and show the government lacks a coherent approach to public sector pay, the FDA (the union for senior public service managers) argued today.

The government today announced acceptance of the Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations on pay for Senior Civil Servants, the Judiciary and senior ranks in the armed forces as well as Ministers and MPs.

Jonathan Baume, FDA General Secretary, said: "An increase of 3% is inadequate, particularly with inflation at 2.9%. With pay ranges increased by only 2.25%, many members will see no real pay increase as a result of this award and some a pay cut. The government expects Senior Civil Servants to lead and deliver major reform not only in the civil service but also in the wider public sector, and these awards provide little financial incentive.

"In 2001 a Government commissioned pay comparability study clearly demonstrated that Senior Civil Service pay rates were significantly worse than the private sector and also most other areas of the public sector. Senior Civil Service pay is becoming increasing uncompetitive, and at a time when the government is trying to encourage more external appointments to the civil service.

"Over the past two years public sector pay has started to make up some of the ground lost to the private sector during the economic boom years. The government is now exerting enormous pressure on the Review Bodies to hold back any further growth in public sector pay just at a time when it needs to encourage and motivate all public servants to deliver its ambitious reform agenda. The government should offer a coherent approach to rewarding the public sector not a short term policy of start-stop".

Ends

Notes for Editors
1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK's 11,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

2. For further information contact: