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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

My Lords, first, perhaps I may say how I much welcome the cameo appearance of the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, on this Bill. Clearly, I welcome the opportunity to debate this matter again, which we last debated in Committee. I also pay tribute to the outstanding work of the police, the prison officers and the Armed Forces, although for the reasons stated by the noble Baroness her amendment is limited to police and prison officers, and does not refer to the Armed Forces. Yes, these very key workers deserve a fair and effective pay system mechanism, which serves them and the taxpayer well. That is very simply the Government’s position. Although the focus of the amendment and the debate is on the police and prison officers, they are not alone in having independent pay machinery which makes recommendations to Ministers. I emphasise the words, ““recommendations to Ministers””. This process has been developed over more than 35 years and has for a number of workforces, including groups without the right to take industrial action, stood the test of time and has been seen to deliver a fair and effective mechanism for determining pay awards. However, it has always been clear that the Government retain discretion on whether to implement those recommendations. Both this Government and previous Governments have overseen such a system. Looking at the record, for instance, of the previous Government in relation to awards by independent pay review bodies, it is clear that they have used staging many times. I see in your Lordships' House at least two former distinguished Secretaries of State for Health. The doctors and dentists pay review body pay awards were staged four times—in 1984, 1990, 1991 and 1996. The pay award was deferred twice—in 1985 and 1986. In 1993, a pay limit was imposed. For nurses, the pay award was staged in 1985, 1990 and 1991.