Redundancy/salary/mat protection question

[theactual]

I work for a company, there are 3.6 people in my team, we are all on the same salary band. They are cutting two roles, leaving 1.6. However, because someone is going on maternity leave this week, the 0.6 role is protected and the remaining 3 of us have to reapply for the 1.0 role.

The JD is exactly the same for the 1.0 and the 0.6, but the salary for the new 1.0 role is a band down from what we are on now. I have been told if I reapply I would be put on the new lower band, however the person going on mat leave will remain on the higher salary as their role is protected.

Can this be done? It's exactly the same job role.

Assuming the person going on maternity leave is the current 0.6, they must be given the remaining 0.6 role. The issue is putting the full role in a lower pay band. If the role is genuinely identical and taking it means you will get a lower salary, that may be unlawful.