That this House welcomes the TUC-organised Speak up for Public Services lobby on 23rd January 2007, whose purpose is to draw attention to concerns surrounding the future of the public sector, including resources and the involvement of the private sector, and as an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of public servants throughout the country; recognises that many public servants feel that the distinctive public service ethos is too often undervalued and unappreciated, particularly in proposals to privatise or introduce market mechanisms into the public sector; urges hon. Members to support the European Trade Union Congress online petition calling on the Commission to propose European legislation on public services designed to give priority to the general interest embodied in public services, to ensure that everyone has access to public services, to strengthen public services in order to guarantee citizens' fundamental rights, to guarantee more legal security so as to allow the development of sustainable public service missions and to give public services a firm legal basis and thus immunity from ideologically motivated attacks; and recognises that, while many public services can be improved, this should be done in partnership with the public service staff and users and that reforms should be evidence-based.

That this House welcomes the TUC-organised Speak up for Public Services lobby on 23rd January 2007, whose purpose is to draw attention to concerns surrounding the future of the public sector, including resources and the involvement of the private sector, and as an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and...