I am today announcing the Government’s decision to accept the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body on pay for the senior civil service for 2025-26.
The Government received the SSRB’s 2025 report on 6 May 2025. This is being laid in Parliament today and published on gov.uk.
The Government greatly value the independent expertise and insight of the SSRB and are accepting its recommendation on SCS headline pay for the 2025-26 pay round.
This year, the SSRB has recommended:
that all members of the senior civil service should receive a 3.25% consolidated increase to base pay from 1 April 2025;
setting the following changes to the SCS pay ranges from 1 April 2025:
SCS pay band 1: £81,000 to £130,000.
SCS pay band 2: £100,000 to £163,000.
SCS pay band 3: £130,000 to £209,000.
SCS pay band 4: £155,000 to £220,000;
an anomalies pot, comprising 0.5% of the SCS pay bill; and
a fundamental review and “reset” of SCS pay and reward frameworks is undertaken by the Government with urgency.
The Government have very carefully considered the advice and justifications provided by the independent SSRB. The Government accept its recommendations, but ask that the changes recommended to the pay band maximum for SCS pay bands 1 to 3 are deferred to form part of the SSRB’s recommendation for a fundamental review of the SCS pay and reward frameworks. The Government believe that any changes to the pay band maximum for these grades would be best considered as part of this review, and will submit proposals to the SSRB for the 2026-27 pay round on this matter.
In addition, as outlined in the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster’s letter of 30 September 2024 to the SSRB chair, the recommendations made in relation to the permanent secretary group will be additionally considered by the permanent secretary remuneration committee.
This Government place the highest value on the leadership role that senior civil servants play in driving forward mission-led government and their ambitions on public sector reform. I am grateful to the new chair and members for their report.
[HCWS662]