UK ministers back down and offer civil servants £1,500 to end pay row

London: Ministers have backed down in their dispute with civil servants over pay, offering less senior officials a one-off payment of £1,500 to help with the cost of living.

The Prospect union welcomed the offer on Friday, which followed talks between the Cabinet Office minister, Jeremy Quin, and union officials earlier in the day.

Civil service unions had previously condemned the government for not offering their members the same lump sum offered to teachers and health workers. Civil servants have suspended strike action planned for next week.

Quin said in a statement: “I am pleased with the constructive engagement we have had with civil service trade unions, and to be announcing that departments will be allowed to make a £1,500 payment to every member of staff at Grade 6 and below.

“This is both fair to the taxpayer and a recognition of the financial pressures civil servants have faced over the last year.”

Mike Clancy, Prospect’s general secretary, said: “The industrial action taken by union members has been critical in getting to this point.

“We will now consult our public service representatives on the substance of the offer and formally respond to the government in due course.”

Prospect members include technical, managerial and scientific staff in agencies such as the Met Office, the Health and Safety Executive and Natural England.