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The Wrekin

View candidate responses for The Wrekin to our public service pledges.

 

Paul Kalinauckas (Labour)

1) I pledge to work to ensure that public services are properly resourced and delivered by the public sector and that there are no further local office closures, public sector job cuts or privatisations.

We must protect frontline services - not cut them. That is why the 2009 Pre-Budget Report laid out that whilst we will halve the deficit in four years, we will protect key frontline services.

In the white paper Putting the Frontline First: smarter government, I made it clear that in meeting the fiscal challenges ahead "we must ensure that we do not damage the public services on which so many depend".

So we will meet our commitments on our frontline key public service priorities in the current economic climate increasing efficiency by making government smarter, and cutting lower value programmes and lower priority budgets.

The Conservatives refuse to match our commitment to protecting frontline services. They threaten an age of austerity - a change you can't afford.

2) I pledge to support measures aimed at closing the UK tax gap including recruiting HMRC staff and ensuring tax loopholes are closed.

It is vital that everyone makes a fair contribution to the taxes that fund public services. At PBR 2009 HMRC published, for the first time, an estimate of the UK tax gap alongside a policy document that sets out the actions HMRC are taking to reduce the tax gap.

This builds on Labour’s strong record in taking action to protect revenues from those seeking to evade or avoid paying their fair share of tax. Since 1997, the Government has been taking steps to tackle avoidance, by reforming the tax system, closing loopholes and introducing the Disclosure regime.

Anti-avoidance measures brought in as a result of the disclosure rules have closed over £12 billion in avoidance opportunities.

On a global level we have led efforts to end banking secrecy in tax havens across the world and so we are actively recovering taxes evaded by those holding money abroad. For example the recent agreement with Liechtenstein is expected to lead to the recovery of £1billion of taxes owed.

3) I pledge to support civil service national pay bargaining and to press the government to offer pay increases to public sector works at least in line with inflation.

The PBR set out the Government’s commitment to protect front line public services, while we take the action necessary to halve the deficit.

That has meant some tough choices. And, because pay makes up half of department’s spending, restraint will be required to protect frontline services and jobs in the public sector. That is why we will be seeking a 1% cap on basic pay uplifts across the public sector for two years from April 2011.

This does not represent any change in the Government’s view that you, as public servants, are the key asset in the public sector. That is why we have rejected the Conservatives’ proposal to freeze pay across the public sector in the coming years.

Our record over the past decade makes clear our commitment to rewarding the hard work of public sector workers.

Between 1997 and 2009 earnings growth for the public sector was 25 per cent compared to 22 per cent in the private sector. And it is important to remember that although the Government will cap the increase in basic pay uplifts at 1%, many public sector workers will also get progression payments that go beyond this.

Within this overall framework Civil Service awards will continue to be set via delegated arrangements.

4) I pledge to honour the 2005 commitment on public sector pensions and defend the rights of existing members of the civil service compensation scheme.

We remain committed to carrying forward the 2005 Public Services Forum agreement on public sector pensions. That agreement has been essential in achieving a vital partnership approach between government and unions in delivering substantial reforms to public sector pensions.

Labour will build on the progress to date with our continued commitment to provide good quality, index-linked, sustainable, defined benefit pensions, and to consult fully with members' representatives in taking pension reforms forward.

The recent changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme have been necessary to bring it into line with the rest of the public sector. It remains significantly more generous than those offered by most private sector employers and is the outcome of a consultation process that began in July 2008, as part of the ongoing modernisation of the Civil Service.

The reforms incorporate significant revisions included after consultation with the Council of Civil Service Unions, that have in particular improved the new terms for those earning below £30,000 a year and for those nearing retirement ag e. Five of the six unions on the Council of Civil Service Unions have agreed to the changes.

5) I pledge to campaign to ensure any changes to public services are only made after proper equality impact assessments have been conducted and their findings implemented.

The Government has put in place clear duties that require public sector authorities to carry out equality impact assessments on policies and delivery practices affecting equality in the work place.

All public authorities will have procedures in place to meet their legal responsibilities on equality impact assessments and will also be mindful of the need to consult with relevant employees, trade unions and service users.

Once the Equality Bill has received Royal Assent, these duties will also be extended to cover sexual orientation, age and religion/belief.