To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to (a) implement the pay recommendations of the prison and police review boards and (b) pay probation staff their regular yearly increments. (182109)

The information requested is as follows:

(a) The Prison Service pay review body (PSPRB) is due to report its recommendations by 16 February 2008. These will be considered at the appropriate time.

(b) Under the Probation Service pay agreement probation staff are contractually entitled to pay progression on an annual basis from the 1 April each year but the amount of this progression is the subject of negotiation with the trades unions.