Developments in Civil Service Pay Since the Megaw Report

Abstract

This article analyses the development of the Civil Service pay arrangements from the Megaw Committee of 1981-82 and its Report onwards. It involves a consideration of that Report and of the subsequent pay agreements that emerged within the Civil Service, most notably between 1987 and 1989. The trend towards the greater individualisation in the pay of civil servants was then accentuated by the renewed emphasis on performance pay in 1992 agreements, and the maintenance of cohesive arrangements was further challenged by the greater provision for delegation to agencies and by 'market testing' .