Recommendation 13

The stagnation of civil service pay poses challenges for retention, recruitment, and morale—and may in some cases lead to real hardship. Moving posts out of the capital, where costs of living are lower and where the Government does not pay a London premium on civil service salaries, has the potential to offer financial benefits to both the Government and its officials. Nevertheless, a large contingent of staff—especially senior posts—are always going to be required to work in London, and the Places for Growth programme will on its own do nothing for the individuals holding such roles. Civil service relocation has a role to play within the overall policy relating to civil service pay, but it should not be seen by the Cabinet Office as a replacement for addressing underlying issues.