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Written question asked by Chi Onwurah (Labour) on Monday, 13 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


NHS Foundation Trusts: Living Wage

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department plans to take to support (a) Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (b) Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to become accredited as Living Wage Employers.

Answer

Individual National Health Service organisations are free to make local decisions to enhance pay and may choose, at their own discretion, to pursue Living Wage Employer accreditation. The Department does not have plans to provide direct support to foundation trusts to become accredited Living Wage Employers.

Following acceptance of the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation on headline pay for 2026/27, the Agenda for Change (AfC) entry hourly rate in England now sits 21p per hour above the National Living Wage.

Negotiations on reforms to the AfC pay structure are undertaken through the NHS Staff Council. We are working in partnership with them to agree changes in 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17993
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Living wage Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk