The lord chancellor has asked for recommendations to the government for the 2024/25 pay award for judicial office holders.
In an open letter to the Senior Salaries Review Body’s interim chair Pippa Lambert, justice secretary Alex Chalk MP said he was ‘committed to commissioning the major review when recruitment for a new judicial lead and permanent chair of the SSRB concludes’.
A major review of the judicial salary structure usually takes place every five years. The last was in 2018, where issues of recruitment particularly at High Court ,circuit and district bench level were highlighted.
In reference to the SSRB’s letter relaying its concern about delays to member recruitment and the SSRB’s ability to undertake the 2024/25 annual review, Chalk said: ‘. I can assure you that the robust and independent advice given by the SSRB to the government is highly valued and that I attach considerable importance to the expert and independent judgement of the SSRB.’
Noting that this year pay review bodies (PRBs) had recommended ’historically high pay awards for their respective workforces in light of the extraordinary macroeconomic context’, Chalk said: ’Accepting these recommendations, whilst increasing borrowing, required tough decisions. It is vital that the PRBs consider the historic nature of the 2023-24 awards and the government’s affordability position that will be set out further in written evidence.’
Asking that the report be submitted by May 2024, Chalk said the SSRB’s recommendations should consider the affordability of any award as well as evidence on recruitment, retention, and diversity of judges.
He added: ‘The SSRB should also consider the role of the upcoming major review in enacting wider structural reform.’
