Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 May 2026
Correspondence from The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 21 May 2026: Government Response to the SSRB Annual Report 2026-27
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Lord Chancellor David Lammy informs the Justice Committee Chair that the government has decided to implement a 3.5% judicial pay award for 2026/27, rejecting the Senior Salaries Review Body's recommendation of 3.8%. While acknowledging persistent recruitment and retention concerns in the judiciary, Lammy states the lower award reflects departmental affordability constraints, with the increase prioritised from a baseline of 2%.
Key findings
- SSRB recommended a 3.8% judicial pay award for 2026/27 due to ongoing recruitment and retention issues in parts of the judiciary
- Government rejected the SSRB recommendation and implemented a 3.5% pay award instead, backdated to April 2026, applied equally to all judicial office holders
- Lord Chancellor states 2% was the affordable baseline for the department; the additional 1.5% to reach 3.5% was prioritised funding
- Government acknowledges persistent recruitment and retention problems and is commissioning a Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure to examine targeted reform options
Government position
Partially accepts. Government accepts the need to address judicial pay and recruitment/retention concerns but rejects the specific SSRB award level of 3.8% as unaffordable. Implements 3.5% instead, framing this as a prioritisation of available funds. Defers structural solutions to a separate Major Review of Judicial Salary Structure rather than using the annual pay award mechanism.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
David Lammy MP, Senior Salaries Review Body, Ministry of Justice, Andy Slaughter, Judiciary
Notable line
“I have decided to reject the SSRB's recommendation and instead implement a 3.5% judicial pay award.”
Key Quotes
“I value the SSRB's expertise and independent advice in recommending a pay award which reflects the important role that the judiciary play across the justice system.”
“I have not taken this decision lightly. As I set out in my evidence, an award of 2% was affordable to my department. I have prioritised funding to increase that figure by 1.5% to 3.5%.”
“I share the SSRB's concern over the persistent recruitment and retention issues affecting parts of the judiciary.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗