Good morning. Tomorrow Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, will announce his mixed price range and spending assessment, however the torrent of pre-announcements continues, and in a single day the Treasury has stated that Sunak will finish the general public sector pay freeze. Right here is our in a single day story by my colleagues Jessica Elgot and Rowena Mason.
Because the report explains, particulars are sketchy at this level. Sunak will not be asserting pay awards for public sector staff – these will solely come after the impartial pay assessment our bodies have made their suggestions, within the regular means – and ending the pay freeze for public sector staff (or some public sector staff – there have been exemptions for the low paid, and for NHS employees) will not be the identical as awarding a real-terms improve (that might overshoot inflation).
This was confirmed by Paul Scully, the enterprise minister on Millbank responsibility for the federal government, who in interview this morning refused to decide to public sector staff getting a pay rise above inflation. Requested if the pay will increase subsequent yr can be increased than inflation, he replied:
That will likely be decided by the pay assessment our bodies. The chancellor is eager to provide individuals an increase.
They may then take that into consideration as they appear to what ought to be an applicable rise for the general public sector, given the general public funds.
I can’t pre-empt what they will do. We are going to see the place we’re come subsequent April when the assessment our bodies have reported.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: Lecturers and officers from the Division of Well being and Social Care give proof to the Commons science committee in regards to the UK’s means to take care of world illness outbreaks.
9.30am: Prof David Cunningham, chair of the Affiliation of Most cancers Physicians, and different specialists give proof to the Commons well being committee about most cancers providers.
11.30am: Downing Avenue holds its foyer briefing.
11.30am: Liz Truss, the international secretary, takes questions within the Commons.
2.30pm: Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, offers proof to the Commons defence committee on the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
2.30pm: The NFU and different farming and meals business commerce our bodies give proof to the Commons setting committee about labour shortages.
2.30pm: Lord Frost, the Brexit minister, offers proof to the Lords European affairs committee.
Afternoon: Friends debate Commons amendments to the setting invoice, together with the vote overturning a Lords bid to protect rivers from sewage.
I attempt to monitor the feedback under the road (BTL) however it’s unattainable to learn all of them. In case you have a direct query, do embrace “Andrew” in it someplace and I’m extra more likely to discover it. I do attempt to reply questions, and if they’re of normal curiosity, I’ll submit the query and reply above the road (ATL), though I can’t promise to do that for everybody.
If you wish to appeal to my consideration rapidly, it’s in all probability higher to make use of Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
Alternatively, you may e-mail me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com
