AQW 15981/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 08/03/2021
Answered On Date: 18/03/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of (i) the anticipated one per cent pay rise offer for health workers; and (ii) the potential for strike action related to pay demands.

Answer:

The pay round for 2021/22 has not yet been finalised. The one per cent referred to is included in the evidence submitted to the NHS Pay Review Body by the Department of Health and Social Care in England, which stated that any award above 1% will require re-prioritisation. This is not an offer of a pay award.

Any decision on a pay award for NI health workers will be taken after the pay review bodies make their recommendations. I do not intend to pre-empt those recommendations, nor speculate on the possibility of related industrial action. NHSPRB is expected to publish its report in May 2021.

Our pay award decisions can also only be taken in the context of a wider public sector pay policy set by the Department of Finance.