Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Julie Morgan (Labour). It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Civil Service Compensation Scheme

Question: What recent progress has been made in negotiations on the civil service compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: For the past 18 months, officials have been in discussion with the six main civil service unions to negotiate changes to the civil service compensation scheme to eliminate age discrimination, to protect the lowest paid and to deliver the savings of £500 million over three years committed to by the Prime Minister. The new scheme will be brought into effect from 1 April, with the agreement of five of the six civil service unions. The amendment scheme was laid before the House on 5 February. The Public and Commercial Services union rejected the new proposals and held industrial action on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Secondary information