Downing Street Says » Pensions negotiations

» Monday, December 19, 2011

Pensions negotiations

Asked if teachers’ unions were correct in saying that a resolution to pension discussions was imminent, the PMS said we have been continuing to talk to the unions about pensions reform, that the Government had always wanted to reach an agreement before the end of the year, and that we were hopeful of doing so.

Asked if there had been significant developments between the strikes on 30 November and now, the PMS said there had been meetings and there were more taking place today, and that some progress had been made.

Asked how you defined the end of the year, the PMS said that the Minister for the Cabinet Office had told the House the previous week that the Government was committed to providing an update to the House before it rose, so he would expect there would be an update tomorrow.

Asked if it was still the Government policy to withdraw its offer if agreement was not reached, the PMS said that the Government position was as it was set out on 2 November. He added that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury had said that the Government could withdraw the offer at any time if he chose to do so, and that the Government was hoping to reach an agreement by the end of the year.

Asked if the Government was trying to divide and rule the unions, the PMS said there were different schemes with different characteristics, and different workforces too. Asked if there was any room for manoeuvre, and if that would be at the scheme rather than the general level, the PMS said the issues being discussed were scheme level details.

Asked if the Prime Minister and Chancellor had been directly involved in the talks, the PMS said no.

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