onathan Ashworth responds to remarks made by Health Secretary at the Health and Social Care Select Committee

“Matt Hancock knows full well that with the OBR expectations for inflation, he is imposing a pay cut on NHS staff in a pandemic.

“Ministers should take this pay cut off the table and start talks with staff on a multi-year pay deal that reflects their worth and address recruitment and retention in the NHS.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

At the Health and Social Care Select Committee this morning, when asked about NHS staff pay recommendations, Matt Hancock said: "Inflation is below one per cent and therefore a proposed one per cent pay rise is indeed a pay rise. That's simply a matter of fact."

The OBR expects inflation to be above one per cent in 2021-22.