Downing Street Says » Public sector pensions

» Monday, September 12, 2011

Public sector pensions

Asked where we were in terms of talks between Government and the unions, on pensions, the PMS said that the talks were ongoing and progressing well, but that they should talk to the Cabinet office for more details.

Asked to go into more details on the progress, the PMS said that the important thing was that the Government was sitting around the table with the unions talking about difficult issues. She said that the principles hadn’t changed – that the Government wanted to ensure that public sector pensions continued to be generous, but that they were also affordable – and talks on how to implement that were ongoing. She added that there were also sectoral talks ongoing, to discuss how we approach the different types of public sector pensions.

Asked for more details on the areas of progress, the PMS said that the Government was discussing the difficult issues and that was important progress in itself.

Asked for more details on the timetable for the scheme by scheme deals, the PMS said that they would have to speak to the Cabinet Office on the timetable.

Asked what would happen if they did not meet the deadlines, the PMS said the important thing was that the Government was in dialogue with the unions. She said that calls for industrial action were very disappointing, but that they were continuing to have the rational discussions about the most appropriate methods of reaching a solution that would benefit all.

Asked if there was an imbalance between what the Government and the unions were saying about strikes, the PMS said that is was very disappointing that there had been a call for industrial action, but the discussions are ongoing.

Asked about the Government’s plans to provide a minimum level of public services during any industrial action, the PMS said that the Government has continuity plans in place for all eventualities, as part of prudent planning.

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