Finance Ministers call for 1% public sector pay cap to be lifted

The UK Government must set out plans to lift the public sector pay cap and reverse planned cuts in expenditure in this year’s Autumn Budget.

This was the message Scottish and Welsh Finance Ministers delivered to the Treasury at the Finance Quadrilateral meeting in London today.

They urged the UK Government to change course on austerity and invest in public services by lifting the 1% public sector pay cap.

Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, said:

“We believe that the time is now right to give public sector workers, both in Scotland and across the UK, the recognition they deserve.

“We have committed to lifting the 1% pay cap and in the forthcoming budget we will deliver a pay policy that is both affordable and acknowledges the real life circumstances of our public servants.  

“However, the UK Government budget will be a key factor in determining the resource that the Scottish Government has available to invest in public services and public sector pay.

“I would therefore urge the UK Government to use any fiscal headroom that they have to reverse planned cuts in expenditure, lift the 1% pay cap for all public service workers and provide sufficient funds to invest in public services.”

Wales’ Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, said:

“We are fully behind our public sector workers and have repeatedly called on the UK Government to end the cap on public sector pay and give workers across the UK the pay rise they deserve.

“However, we have been equally clear this must be fully funded by the UK Government.  Those who implemented the cap must be responsible for funding its removal.

“We have already committed to use any funding consequentials we receive from the UK Government as a result of public sector pay rises in England to raise the pay cap for public sector workers in Wales.

“I urge the UK Government to do the right thing and lift the 1% pay cap for all public service workers and provide the devolved administrations with the funds to do likewise.”