Prison Service Pay Review Body

The formation of the sixth and newest Pay Review Body, the PSPRB, was announced in February 2001. Similar to review bodies for other groups - such as the armed forces, doctors and dentists, school teachers - the PSPRB is made up of a number of individuals who have senior-level experience of handling pay and other matters, both in the private and public sectors. The Review Body is independent of Government, the Prison Service and the staff associations.

The Review Body's Role
The task of the PSPRB is to provide independent advice on the remuneration of governing governors and operational managers, prison officers and support grades in the England and Wales Prison Service.

The Terms of Reference also make provision for the Review Body to provide advice on the remuneration of prison governors, prison officers, prison auxiliaries, night patrol officers, night custody officers, prison custody officersand operational support grades in the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

In reaching its recommendations the Review Body is to take into account the following:

• the need to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified staff taking into account the specific needs of the Prison Service in England and Wales and the
• Northern Ireland Prison Service;
• regional/ local variations in labour markets and their effects on the recruitment and retention of staff;
• relevant legal obligations on the Prison Service in England and Wales and the Northern Ireland Prison Service, including anti-discrimination legislation regarding age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and belief and disability;
• Government policies for improving the public services, including the requirement to meet Prison Service output targets for the delivery of services;
• the funds available to the Prison Service in England and Wales and the Northern Ireland Prison Service as set out in the Government's departmental expenditure limits;
• and the Government's inflation target.

The Review Body shall also take account of the competitiveness of the Prison Service in England and Wales with the private sector, and any differences in terms and conditions of employment between the public and private sectors taking account of the broad employment package including relative job security.

The Review Body is also required to take careful account of the economic and other evidence submitted by the Government, staff and professional representatives and others.

Reports and recommendations for the Prison Service in England and Wales should be submitted to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the Director General of the Prison Service as Head of the Executive Agency. Reports and recommendations for the Northern Ireland Prison Service will be submitted to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service as Head of the Executive Agency.


THE PSPRB is registered with the Information Commisioner as a data controller. Its registration number is Z5995231.

For details of the Review Body Members, click here.