To ask the Minister of Health whether he will introduce a pay award similar to that in Scotland for junior doctors before the upcoming strikes.

I have already made clear my disappointment at the proposed budgetary allocation for my Department in 2024/25. The current allocation represents a 2.3% real terms cut on what my Department spent received last year, this leaves very little room for manoeuvre on pay at this time.

Any additionality for junior doctors can only be delivered through contract reform which can bring efficiency, modernisation of terms and conditions, and improvements for both the junior doctor cohort and for the wider HSC.

My door remains open to the BMA (JDC) to engage in dialogue on these issues.