Member News
The coalition government's planned reforms to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme were a "kick in the teeth" to many in the sector, according to a Lib Dem MP.
John Leech (Manchester Withington) said civil servants at the low end of the pay scale had spent years worrying about their jobs and were now facing uncertainty about their future.
During Commons question time, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said he had met with unions yesterday to discuss the proposals, seeking to engage with them quickly to "negotiate additional protection for low-paid workers".
He told MPs: "Because contrary to public belief large numbers of civil servants aren't very well paid.
"Half of them earn £21,000 a year or less, and we do want there to be extra protection for them."
Maude said he wanted to but in place both "sustainable and affordable" long-term reform that had "fairness built into it".
Katy Clark (Lab, North Ayrshire and Arran) asked what recent discussion had taken place with with trade union representatives on reform of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.
She said that due to the coalition policies, thousands of civil servants faced losing their jobs.
The Cabinet Office minister said there was "common ground" that the current scheme was unaffordable, pointing to the "modest" reforms proposed by Labour that were blocked by the PCS.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Paul Goggins said that the minister had attacked the PCS union for not accepting Labour’s package for reform of the civil service compensation scheme.
He said that 600,000 staff are to be affected yet had received no details about the proposed changes.
"Why should the lowest-paid staff, why should the junior official in a Jobcentre, be treated in exactly the same way as a permanent secretary in a Government department?" he said.
Maude reiterated that the government was keen to protect the lowest-paid in the civil service and will bring forward a scheme to do so.
Christopher Chope (Con, Christchurch) asked the government about discussions with trade unions on proposed changes to the terms and conditions of employment of civil servants.
He asked: "Did you discuss yesterday what is of great public concern and that is that civil servants on average have higher pay and they get better pensions, they work shorter hours and have longer holidays than their private sector counterparts, and they also have lower productivity.
"What is the government doing about that?"
Maude said he had met trade union representatives yesterday. He said that public sector productivity had fallen over a 12-year period that had seen private sector productivity increase by 20-30 per cent, adding it was a "problem".
He said: "In the case of the civil service itself, median pay in the civil service is lower than median pay in the private sector - but pay in the wider public sector is higher."
George Howarth (Lab, Knowsley) asked: "Do you think a career in public service is a good thing?"
The Cabinet Office minister responded, "Yes, 100 per cent - which is why I have adopted one".
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd