To ask the Minister of Health whether he intends to match the five per cent pay rise offered to Agenda for Change staff in Scotland, in order to prevent losing staff to a neighbouring jurisdiction.

I recently publicly acknowledged the need to ensure all staff are appropriately paid, when highlighting the financial pressures and budgetary uncertainty facing our health service. I must stress that 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. Any pay increase will also require to be fully funded by the Executive, given the financial outlook facing my Department in 2022/23.

I further issued a statement on 20th July, in which I set out that I have considered the recommendations made by the NHSPRB and DDRB, and would be content to recommend acceptance of the relevant awards. In relation to the Agenda for Change pay award, this would maintain the previous commitments made by the Executive to maintain pay parity with England. The NHSPRB was not asked to make recommendations for Agenda for Change staff in Scotland, instead the Scottish Government decided to negotiate directly with Trades Unions. The offer of a 5% award was rejected. While AfC colleagues in Scotland may have slightly higher rates of pay, Scottish Government benefits from tax-raising powers, which sets the rate of Income Tax at 21% for earnings over £25,689 and at 41% for earnings over £43,663.

Unlike my colleagues in other parts of the United Kingdom, I am unable to announce the immediate implementation of pay awards locally as Northern Ireland still does not have an agreed Executive Budget for 2022/23. Equally, I welcome and support the recent letter from the three devolved Finance Ministers asking the previous Chancellor to increase budgets to address pay and other pressures, including in the Health Service.

The current cost of living crisis impacts on us all, yet Departments cannot address all issues in isolation – we need a functioning Executive to deliver appropriate support across our society.