HC Deb 16 March 2001 vol 364 cc765-6W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in respect of police constables(a) average earnings on 1 April 1997, (b) average earnings on 1 April 2001, (c) the percentage annual pay increase for each of the last five years and (d) the percentage pay increase between 1 April 1997 and 1 April 2001. [153199]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 14 March 2001]: The Survey of Pay, Hours and Length of Service, conducted annually by statisticians from the Office of Manpower Economics for the Police Negotiating Board (PNB), provides figures on the average earnings of police constables, including pay, allowances and overtime. The November 1997 survey showed that the average earnings of a police constable in the United Kingdom were £516.28 per week (or £26,933 per annum). The most recent data available are from the PNB survey undertaken in November 1999 and this showed that the average earnings of a police constable were £550.03 per week (equivalent to £28,693 per annum).

The PNB makes recommendations to the Home Secretary on all matters concerning police pay and allowances. Police pay is increased every September through a pay award based on the median percentage of the Manpower Index for non-manual workers, a formula introduced in 1994. In 1996 and 1997 the increase was 3.5 per cent; in 1998, 4.0 per cent; in 1999, 3.6 per cent. and in 2000, 3.0 per cent. The pay scale for constables at 1 April 1997, the current pay scale and the percentage increases are detailed in the table (the length of the pay scale was reduced in September 1997).

Annual salary (£) from:
Pay point 1 September 1996 1 September 2000 Percentage pay increase
Constable:
On commencing service
1 14,916 17,133 14.86
2 16,197 19,170 18.36
On completion of initial training
3 17,295 20,304 17.40
On completion of two years" satisfactory service
4 17,679 20,841 17.89
5 18,147 21,567 18.85
6 18,777 22,257 18.53
7 19,380 22,983 18.59
8 20,013 23,649 18.17
9 20,589 24,246 17.76
10 21,111 25,035 18.59
11 21,795 25,953 19.08
12 22,593 27,114 20.01
13 23,607