I am today announcing the government’s decision on pay for
the National Crime Agency (NCA) for 2021-22.
The government recognises that public sector workers play a
vital role in the running of our public services, including
in their remarkable commitment to keeping the public safe
in the continuing fight against Covid-19.
The government received the NCA Remuneration Review Body
(NCARRB) report on 2021 pay for the NCA on 2 July. This
will be laid before Parliament today (CP 467) and published
on Gov.uk.
I would like to thank the Chair and members of the Review
Body for their work on gathering evidence from the NCA, the
Home Office, HM Treasury and the Trade Unions, resulting in
their detailed, comprehensive report. The government values
the independent expertise and insight of NCARRB and takes
on board the useful advice and principles set out in
response to my remit letter of 14 January 2021.
As set out at the Spending Review (2020), there will be a
pause to headline pay rises for the majority of public
sector workforces in 2021-22. This is in order to ensure
fairness between public and private sector wage growth, as
the private sector was significantly impacted by the
Covid-19 pandemic in the form of reduced hours, supressed
earnings growth and increased redundancies, whilst the
public sector was largely shielded from these effects. This
approach will protect public sector jobs and investment in
public services, prioritising the lowest paid, with those
earning less than £24,000 (Full Time Equivalent) receiving
a minimum £250 increase. The pause ensures we can get the
public finances back onto a sustainable path after
unprecedented government spending on the response to
Covid-19.
My remit letter informed NCARRB that I would not be seeking
a recommendation for pay uplifts in the remit group for
2021/22, in the light of the public sector pay pause but
invited views on areas including the operational context in
which the Agency is operating, its ongoing pay strategy and
longer-term plans for its workforce. NCARRB was also
invited to comment on how the £250 uplift is best
implemented so as to avoid leapfrogging. The NCA has
considered options to avoid leapfrogging, including the
impacts on its pay strategy, and considers the most
effective way to remediate this is by paying a percentage
uplift to those who are at risk of being leap-frogged,
which is applicable to those earning less than £24,000.
The government accepts the NCARRB observations in full and
the awards will be fully funded within the NCA’s existing
budget.
