§ 31. Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has recently received about police pay. [64777]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Secretary of State is represented on the Police Negotiating Board (PNB), the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions. All the main police organisations are represented on the PNB, including the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Police Authorities (APA), the Superintendents' Association and the Police Federation.
On 9 May 2002, the PNB reached agreement on a recommendation to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for a package of reforms to police pay and conditions. The Secretary of State has approved the PNB recommendation.
738WUnder the PNB Agreement, all officers in the federated ranks will get an increase in basic salary of £402 from 1 April 2003, on top of the annual police pay award made in September each year.
In addition, from the same date federated ranks' officers who have spent a year at the top of their pay scales will be eligible for a competence-related payment of £1,002 a year. We expect at least 75 per cent. of those eligible to get the payment. There will also be a new special priority payment scheme, under which officers in qualifying posts will get a payment of between £500 and £3,000 normally. up to £5,000 exceptionally.
The PNB Agreement also delivers a number of significant improvements in the management and deployment of police officers, including more flexible rostering and use of part-time working as well as better management of ill health and poor attendance.
The Secretary of State has also received representations from a number of police officers, including the Chief Constable of Thames Valley about the pay and allowances which officers receive.