Recommendation 9

Pay flexibilities can however lead to disparities in specialist pay, which can create an internal market between departments for those with specialist skills. To tackle this, the Cabinet Office explained how it is managing the issue. For senior civil service pay grades, pay exception processes have been put in place and the Heads of Functions now actively share and assess salary information across both functions and departments. The Cabinet Office told us it has also put in place restrictions to limit the ability of people to move 10 C&AG’s report, The cost of EU Exit preparations, HC 102, Session 2019–21, 6 March 2020 11 Qq 38–39 12 Qq 42–43 13 Q 92 14 Q 14 15 C&AG’s report, Central government staff costs, HC 79, Session 2015–16, 5 June 2015 16 Q 51 17 Q 51 10 Specialist Skills in the civil service between departments to jobs at the same level but for more money. For lower grades, the Cabinet Office explained that in the Digital function a framework of salary allowances has been put in place which allowed them to level pay across departments for the same type of job. It is also looking into the cohesion of pay across different geographical locations.18 Retaining and promoting a diverse workforce