Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Having recently written to the head of the Civil Service calling for action on this matter I welcome news that it is now expected to be backdated and paid before the end of the financial year.
“We deserve a full explanation as to what caused the delay in the first place. I suspect that there was a school of thought which believed that delaying the pay rise would increase pressure on the DUP and Sinn Fein to cut a deal. If that is the case it is shameful that politics was played with our hard working nurses in such a way.”