Written question asked by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Friday, 11 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 January 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Pay

Question: (5) which Government Departments she consulted before making a decision on the police pay award for 2008.

Answer: The 2007 police officer pay award was referred to the Police Arbitration Tribunal by the two sides of the Police Negotiating Board, following a failure to reach agreement in the PNB. The police officer negotiating machinery makes recommendations to the Secretaries of State, and the final decision on police officer pay in England and Wales rests with the Home Secretary. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary considered all the arguments put forward as part of the Police Negotiating Board and Police Arbitration Tribunal process in relation to the 2007 police officer pay award, and she also considered representations made to her on this matter following the receipt of the PAT award. She consulted within Government on her decision in the usual ways.As she set out in her written ministerial statement of 16 October 2008, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is pleased that a multi-year pay deal has been agreed for the police starting in 2008.

Secondary information