§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the cost of the reintroduction of common pay scales across his Department. [19262]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownCommon pay scales were reintroduced into the former DSS as part of the 2000 pay round. The overall cost of the pay package for that year was £67.57 million (equating to a 4.5 per cent. package). Of this, 1.2 per cent. or £17.9 million was the cost of bringing staff on to common pay scales.
Work is currently under way to inform and cost the approach for next year's pay award which will cover all staff in the newly formed Department for Work and Pensions (including Employment Service and ex DfEE staff).