New figures suggest public sector salaries have gone up despite a pay freeze having been imposed. In order to shave billions off the public purse, two years ago chancellor George Osborne imposed a two-year freeze on pay, with the provision of a £250 flat rate increase for workers earning below the £21,000 per annum threshold. However, public servants are still entitled to incremental pay rises within their grade's wage band, so this accounts for the overall increase.