NEARLY a million public-sector workers - including teachers, hospital doctors and the military - south of the border are to receive above-inflation pay rises for a second year in succession, Philip Hammond has confirmed.
The Chancellor said the awards - following the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies - were in recognition of the need to recruit and retain the best staff.
The increases, which will be backdated to the start of the financial year, will see a rise of 2.75 per cent for school teachers, 2.5 per cent for consultants and dentists, 2.5 per cent for police officers, 2.9 per cent for armed forces personnel, at least 2.2 per cent for prison officers, and 2.0 per cent for senior civil servants and senior military staff.
The Treasury said they would mean the equivalent of a £1,000 increase for the average classroom teacher while hospital doctors will get an average £1,500.
In the Army, a corporal on average wages will get an additional £995 while police constables will get up to £978 more.
However, unions have warned that they will mean further cuts to services as they will have to be funded from within existing budgets.
In Scotland, Scottish Government ministers make the decisions on pay for most public sector staff.
The Treasury awards come after most public-sector workers received an above-inflation increase last year following the lifting of the 1.0 per cent pay cap, originally put in place under the former Coalition Government's austerity plans.
Mr Hammond, who has said he intends to resign if, as expected, Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister, said they had been made possible due to the work done in rebuilding the public finances.
"Public-sector workers deliver Britain's world-class public services and should be properly rewarded, which is why I'm confirming a second year of above inflation pay rises today," he said.
"This is in recognition of the hard work of millions of people, including soldiers, teachers and doctors, and will help us recruit and retain the best staff.
"We are able to afford these pay rises because our balanced approach means we have reduced our debt while investing in public services, including pay," added Mr Hammond.
Theresa May, who leaves office on Wednesday, said: "Whether it's keeping us safe, saving lives or educating the next generation, our public-sector workers deserve this pay rise in recognition of the brilliant job they do on a daily basis.
"In 2017, we ended the public sector pay cap and I'm pleased that we can build on this today by giving almost a million of our dedicated public servants an above inflation salary increase."
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