House of Commons Administration and Parliamentary Digital Service publish 2024 pay gap data
3 April 2025
The House of Commons Administration and Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) have today published pay gap reports including gender and ethnicity figures for pay and bonus payments in 2024.
House of Commons
This year the House reports one of the lowest gender pay gaps (GPG) in the public sector. In April 2024, the GPG for full-time employees was 10.0% in the UK public sector and 12.5% in the private sector while the House’s stands at -0.5%, a reduction from 2023, in favour of women.
The House’s median GPG figure (-1.9%) is also notably lower than the UK 2024 median GPG of 13.1% and the Civil Service’s overall median GPG of 8.5%.
The House’s average (or mean) ethnicity pay gap (EPG) has decreased to 17.3% from 18.9%, however the median, which is a more representative measurement, has slightly increased from 14.6% to 15.2%, although it remains below the London average, with the latest available figures showing the capital has a median EPG of 40%.
This is the sixth consecutive year we have voluntarily published our EPG figures alongside our GPG data. This information provides both a benchmark for success and holds us accountable where we need to improve. We believe transparency, reporting and monitoring are vital tools in recognising and addressing inequality.
In response to the latest data, Tom Goldsmith, Clerk of the House, and Marianne Cwynarski CBE, Director General said:
“We are committed to supporting our people to thrive and to take meaningful action to build a diverse and inclusive workplace, and annual pay gap reports give us an opportunity to review and consider our progress to date. This is the sixth consecutive year we have voluntarily published our EPG figures alongside our GPG data.
“We are pleased with the reduction in our gender pay gap. This is a significant achievement, and we are very proud of the progress we have made towards reaching pay parity.
“Clearly more needs to be done to address our ethnicity pay gap. Fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive remains our long-term goal.”
Parliamentary Digital Service
This year PDS has reported a mean GPG of 2.9% and a median GPG of 2.7%. This represents a small increase of 0.6 ppts and 0.5 ppts respectively, in comparison to last year’s published figures.
These figures compare favourably with the UK 2024 median GPG of 13.1 and the Civil Service’s overall median GPG of 8.5%. In April 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees was 10.0% in the public sector and 12.5% in the private sector.
PDS’s has reported a mean ethnicity pay gap of 21.4% and a median of 23.6%, an increase from 19.4% and 16.1% respectively. These figures remain below the London average with the latest available figures showing the capital has a median EPG of 40%.
Andy Smith, Chief Information Officer and Managing Director of PDS said:
“We are committed to building a team at PDS that is diverse, inclusive and fair for everyone. An important aspect of this is pay parity and the annual pay gap reports give us an opportunity to assess progress towards this goal. Transparency and a commitment to publishing our gender and ethnicity pay gap data is key to identifying inequalities and developing effective interventions. While we are pleased that our gender pay gap remains low, clearly there is more work to be done to address our ethnicity pay gap.
“We continue to work towards our goal of a diverse and inclusive workplace where colleagues are equally valued.”
Explaining the data
The gender pay gap (GPG)
The difference between men and women’s average hourly pay (the mean GPG) for the House of Commons Administration is -0.5%, and the median is -1.9%.
In comparison to last year’s published figures, there has been an increased reduction in the median pay gap of 2.4 percentage points (ppts), from 0.5% to -1.9% in 2023, now in favour of women. The mean pay gap has also decreased by 2.5 ppts to -0.5% (from 2% in 2023), also in favour of women.
PDS report a mean GPG of 2.9%, an increase of 0.6 ppts from the 2023 figures. The median pay gap is now 2.7%, an increase of 0.5 ppts.
The ethnicity pay gap (EPG)
The difference in average hourly pay between Black, Asian and minority ethnic employees and white employees (the mean EPG) for the House of Commons Administration has decreased from last year’s report, from 18.9% in 2023 to 17.3% in 2024. The median EPG is now 15.2% (14.6% in 2023). In comparison to last year’s report, this means there has been a decrease of 1.6 ppts for the mean and an increase of 0.6 ppts for the median from the previous year.
For PDS, the mean pay gap was 21.4%, and the median pay gap was 23.6%, an increase of 2 and 7.5 ppts respectively from the previous year.
Actions to reduce the EPG
The I&D strategy outlines a series of actions we are taking to reduce our EPG, including:
- Delivering the action plan of the inclusive recruitment review
- Building an accelerated development programme for colleagues from underrepresented groups
- A successful bicameral Reciprocal Mentoring Scheme now in its third cohort bringing together colleagues who ordinarily may not connect
- A more focused approach to talent management
Read the reports in full:
Image: House of Commons