Business minister refuses to say whether public sector pay rise will match inflation

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to unfreeze public sector pay in Wednesday’s budget, but business minister Paul Scully has affirmed that the amount of increase will be determined by independent review bodies.

Scully said he was unable to say whether the public sector pay rise will be over 4%- in line with inflation forecasts- when quizzed by Sky News this morning.

The salary rises will come into effect next April.

Pay was frozen across public sector roles last November apart from for NHS staff, and public servants earning below £24,000.

The Chancellor told the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme on Sunday that he will lay out a “new pay policy” in this week’s budget, explaining: “We thought that was reasonable and fair. Now going forward, we’ll have to set a new pay policy.”

Inflation could hit 4% this year, but small businesses minister Paul Scully says he is unable to say whether the public sector pay rise will be over 4%