Public Sector Pensions

Debate between Hywel Williams and Baroness Primarolo

Thursday 8th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Hywel Williams]

Well, honestly, I am sure that you would not want me to be diverted down this particular route, Madam Deputy Speaker.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Much as this topic might interest some Members, I think the hon. Gentleman should return to the subject of this afternoon’s debate.

[Hywel Williams]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

To summarise our motion, we appreciate the valuable work done by public sector workers and believe that they should receive pensions that are affordable, sustainable and fair. I think that we can have agreement across the House on that. We believe that the Government’s changes are primarily for the purposes of deficit reduction—I do not think we are going to have agreement on that—rather than to secure the long-term sustainability of public sector pensions. These changes are, to our minds, unfair on public sector workers.

We also note that the findings of the National Audit Office for the 2007-08 period show that pensions re-negotiated at that time will generate estimated savings of 14% by 2059-60. The conclusions of the 38th report of the Public Accounts Committee reveal that the cost of public service pensions has reduced substantially because of those changes. We agree with the criticism in both reports of the failure to develop a long-term strategy for the role of pensions in recruitment and retention in the public sector, and we condemn the Government’s threat to cut the devolved Administrations’ budgets if they do not implement the Government’s immediate levy.

--- Later in debate ---

[Hywel Williams]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. I will be grateful if the hon. Gentleman returns to the topic of his motion, which is the Government’s plans on pensions.

[Hywel Williams]

I will obey your injunction, Madam Deputy Speaker.

As I have said, I have had a great deal of correspondence with the unions, and I have given their point of view, which concurs with ours. We are happy to fight the workers’ corner in this dispute. We are happy to press for a proper pensions settlement, which is why we will press our motion to a Division.