To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how civil service annual pay increases to basic pay rates are calculated within overall earnings growth amounts. (156827)

[holding answer 10 October 2007]: All increases to basic pay rates in the civil service are included within the figures for overall earnings growth.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the (a) basic increase elements and (b) overall earnings growth figures for civil service pay are calculated in the same way as other parts of the public sector. (156828)

[holding answer 10 October 2007]: Many public sector workforce groups employ a step-based pay system. Where civil service departments have similar systems, the basic award will be calculated in the same way.

However, due to the wide variety of pay systems used in the civil service, which sometimes differ from those used elsewhere in the public sector, the basic award is necessarily calculated in different ways in some organisations.

In the civil service, earnings growth is most appropriately measured through Increase for Staff in Post (ISP). This metric is used to record the cost of the average pay increase staff receive in a Department or agency.