Latest Press Releases
| SNP AND PLAID CYMRU TO FORCE PUBLIC PENSIONS VOTE IN COMMONS |
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| Thursday, 08 December 2011 00:00 |
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MORAY MP BACKS PUBLIC SECTOR CONCERNS MAJOR UNIONS BACKING SNP/PLAID MOTION The SNP and parliamentary colleagues in Westminster from Plaid Cymru are using their first available opposition time in the current session of parliament to hold a debate and force a vote today [Thursday] on the critical public pensions issue that saw millions of public sector workers out on strike last week. While the SNP & Plaid have used their first opportunity Labour have so far failed to put the issue on the agenda in Parliament despite having an astonishing 36 opportunities to do so. Moray MP Angus Robertson says hard-pressed workers who have seen pay freezes and job losses in the midst of high inflation should simply not be treated like this. Local MP Angus Robertson MP said: “ Moray public sector were out in force last week along with colleagues from across Scotland and the UK. It is clear from the day of action that there is real anger over these reforms, yet there has been no debate and no vote at Westminster. “ UK Ministers are arguing that the money is needed to make pensions affordable but this is nothing more than a cash-grab to fund reduction of debt rather than any kind of sustainable pension arrangement! “ Taking money from frontline public sector workers for the failures of economic policy and the banks is just wrong. “ While it is unsurprising that Coalition Ministers have been silent, it is shocking that the Labour party, who have had thirty-six opposition day opportunities to raise this since the reforms were announced, have refused to put this on the agenda. Given the strength of public feeling, the SNP & Plaid Cymru are using the first opportunity in our control to force the debate and a vote. “ The importance of the debate is underlined by the support we have received for our motion from major unions including the GMB (Scotland) and the National Union of Teachers. “ The need for affordable, sustainable and fair public sector pensions is of critical importance to everyone, which is why the short term cash grab by the UK Government is so concerning. Long-term pension reforms must be taken forward with consent and in partnership which is why it was so regrettable that UK Ministers appeared to be relishing the prospect of strike action. “ This will also be an opportunity to debate the UK Government’s threat to cut Scotland’s budget by £100 million next year alone, on top of drastic cuts to Scotland’s budget, if the Scottish Government does not implement the UK Government’s immediate levy on pensions contributions. “ The Tory/Lib-Dem UK Government is peddling the myth that public sector pensions are ‘gold-plated’ when, in fact the average pension paid out is only around £4,000 per annum. Hardly gold-plated! “ With public sector wages being frozen and 710,000 job losses under new Con-Dem plans, this is a full frontal attack on the public sector, the backbone of our country. “ It is wholly unacceptable that such major changes have not been properly debated in Parliament, which is why the SNP and Plaid Cymru are forcing the issue. Support has been expressed by a number of groups, including: The GMB (Scotland) said: "The Public Service Sector trade Unions and the Scottish Government Should be free to negotiate on the matter of both the level of pension contributions and the longer term benefits without the blackmailing threat from Westminster to cut the Scottish Budget. If we were allowed to do that then I am sure an agreement that is affordable and sustainable could be reached and in so doing avoid any further disruption too services to the people of Scotland." The National Union of Teachers said: “The National Union of Teachers welcomes tomorrow’s Opposition Day debate and congratulates Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party for securing it. As the motion correctly states, the Government’s proposals are all about reducing the deficit and have nothing to do with ensuring the long term sustainability of pension provision. Rather than creating an unnecessary and damaging divide between the public and private sectors, Ministers would do well to focus their attention on securing fair pensions for all if successive governments are to avoid future pensioner poverty on an unaffordable scale.” |
