Chancellor Rishi Sunak will use his Budget on Wednesday to say police officers, nurses, teachers and members of the armed forces are among those set to benefit.

A "temporary pause" in salary progression was introduced by the Government last November as a response to the pandemic – it saw police officers in England and Wales receive a 0% pay rise in 2021.

In an announcement late on Monday, the Treasury said the chancellor would use his forthcoming Budget to say "the solid economic recovery and encouraging signs in the labour market" mean the "pay pause" can be lifted.

Mike Reed, Chair of the City of London Police Federation, said “It’s about time that this Government rewards the police correctly for what it does. It stands firm, shoulders responsibility during difficult times and runs towards danger when others flee.

“If this truly is a relaxing of the pay freeze, I would urge the Government to look back over the recommendation of the pay review body and treat its findings as it is meant to be ‘independent’ and balance our pay reward to reflect the previous years where they have capped their recommendations or ignored them entirely by means of their remit letters.

“Fair pay to reflect the work is what is asked. I recently had an officer with three years’ service disclose his sister at University working part time in a pizza chain was paid £1 an hour more than him!

“It’s time to play fairly and pay right.”

In a statement given to the media on Monday night, Mr Sunak said: "The economic impact and uncertainty of the virus meant we had to take the difficult decision to pause public sector pay.

"Along with our plan for jobs, this action helped us protect livelihoods at the height of the pandemic.

"And now, with the economy firmly back on track, it's right that nurses, teachers and all the other public sector workers who played their part during the pandemic see their wages rise."

Ministers will be "running a full pay round and the awards will be announced next year once government responds to the pay review bodies' recommendations", the Treasury added.

It was announced last week that all Scottish Police officers will receive a £700 pay rise in 2021, alongside a £250 working the pandemic bonus.