To ask the Minister of Finance what assurances he can give that any pay settlement concerning the Northern Ireland Civil Service that is fair and takes account of its contribution during the pandemic will be reached by the end of the 2020-21 financial year.

In considering the pay award, I aim to strike the difficult balance between recognising civil service colleagues for their work, while managing public money in the face of the most challenging economic position for many years.

The Executive agreed a paper in respect of the pay award on 16 March which will allow an offer to be made to recognised trade unions very soon. Staff due to receive an increase under the terms of any pay award will receive any arrears backdated to 1 August 2020.