Household Bills
Above-inflation pay rises for public sector workers
Almost a million public sector workers including teachers, doctors, police officers, and soldiers, have been handed an above-inflation pay rise.
The salary boosts vary because each workforce reaches its own settlement with the government but all are higher than the current 2 per cent rate of inflation.
Teachers will see their pay go up by 2.75 per cent, the equivalent to a £1,000 increase for someone on an average salary.
Hospital doctors will receive on average £1,500 more to their salary, while police constables will earn up to £978 more a year.
Prime minister, Theresa May, said: “Whether it’s keeping us safe, saving lives or educating the next generation, our public sector workers deserve this pay rise in recognition of the brilliant job they do on a daily basis.”
In September 2017, the prime minister scrapped a one per cent cap on public sector pay rises, which had been in place since 2013. Earnings growth for public sector workers reached 3.6 per cent last year.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said: “We are able to afford these pay rises because our balanced approach means we have reduced our debt while investing in public services, including pay.”