To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what interventions his Department have made in relation to the latest pay remit for staff at the Information Commissioner's Office.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is a delegated bargaining unit so conducts its own negotiations with Trade Unions.

The ICO submitted a pay proposal to HMT to remove pay progression in accordance with the civil service pay guidance to remove pay progression by 2015-16. Pay progression is only available to staff in the development zone.

HMT Ministers have agreed to provide pay flexibility outside the cap on public sector pay settlements with the ICO to remove pay progression.