Chamber and committees

Question reference: S4W-20337

Asked by: Aileen McLeod, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 25 March 2014
Current status: Answered by Alex Neil on 23 April 2014

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average salary will be for nursing and midwifery staff at pay bands (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 4, (e) 5, (f) 6 and (g) 7 in April (i) 2014; (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2016, and what information it has on how this compares with staff in England.

Answer

In order to calculate average pay, information on the numbers of whole time equivalent staff in each pay band would be required. This is not yet available for the dates specified. However, from information available, it is possible to make direct comparisons at representative points on the Agenda for Change pay scales. Agenda for Change is the terms and conditions package which covers nurses.

The following table gives representative differences at the first, third and fifth pay point on each band from 1 April 2014.

Agenda for Change – Comparison of Pay Points 2014

Band 1	1^st Point on Scale	Top Point on Scale
Scotland	£15,058	£15,414
England	£14,294	£15,013
Difference	£764*	£401

*The bottom pay point available in Scotland is higher because of

the application of the Scottish Living Wage

Band 2	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£15,058	£15,829	£16,660
England	£14,294	£15,432	£16,271
Difference	£764*	£397	£389

Band 3	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£16,660	£17,803	£18,654
England	£16,271	£17,425	£18,285
Difference	£389	£378	£369

Band 4	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£19,202	£20,300	£21,477
England	£18,838	£19,947	£21,265
Difference	£364	£353	£212

Band 5	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£21,602	£23,132	£25,047
England	£21,388	£22,903	£24,799
Difference	£214	£229	£248

Band 6	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£26,041	£28,180	£30,057
England	£25,783	£27,901	£29,759
Difference	£258	£279	£298

Band 7	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£31,072	£33,227	£35,891
England	£30,764	£32,898	£35,536
Difference	£308	£329	£355

As the pay policies announced in Scotland and England cover both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years, it is possible to use these as a basis for speculative figures for the financial year starting April 2015. Finalised arrangements for pay in the NHS from 1 April 2015 have not yet been put in place and decisions for the 2015-16 financial year will be taken as part of the annual pay cycle.

Agenda for Change – Comparison of Pay Points 2015

(Forecast Based on Announced Policy)

Band 1	1^st Point on Scale	Top Point on Scale
Scotland	£15,358	£15,714
England	£14,294	£15,013
Difference	£1,064*	£701

*The bottom pay point available in Scotland is higher because of

the application of the Scottish Living Wage

Band 2	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£15,358	£16,129	£16,960
England	£14,294	£15,432	£16,271
Difference	£1,064*	£697	£689

Band 3	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£16,960	£18,103	£18,954
England	£16,271	£17,425	£18,285
Difference	£689	£678	£669

Band 4	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£19,502	£20,600	£21,692
England	£18,838	£19,947	£21,265
Difference	£664	£653	£427

Band 5	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£21,818	£23,363	£25,298
England	£21,388	£22,903	£24,799
Difference	£430	£460	£499

Band 6	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£26,302	£28,462	£30,357
England	£25,783	£27,901	£29,759
Difference	£519	£561	£598

Band 7	1^st Point on Scale	3^rd Point on Scale	5^th Point on Scale
Scotland	£31,383	£33,560	£36,250
England	£30,764	£32,898	£35,536
Difference	£619	£662	£714

Pay policies beyond 2015-16 have not yet been announced. It is therefore not possible to provide figures for 1 April 2016.

See all of Aileen McLeod's questions