Public and Commercial Services Union

Candidate's responses will be posted here as soon as we receive them.

You can contact this candidate by post, phone or email:

• Address: Glenrothes Campaign HQ, Unit 22 Crusader House, Haig Business Park, Balgonie Road, Markinch, Fife KY7 6AQ
• Email: info@fightingforfife.org.uk
• Telephone: 01592 755 520

Q1. PCS is campaigning for a national civil service pay framework,
which would protect members pay from erosion by inflation. Do you support PCS's campaign against cuts in real pay for public servants?

It is right that public servants should be properly and fairly
rewarded. For this reason there should be independent pay review and arbitration mechanisms which are treated with respect. There are clearly practical advantages in national settlements in maintaining a career structure provided that there is also flexibility at a local level to allow for variations in labour market conditions.

Q2. PCS is concerned that the latest proposals to reform welfare
will mean cutting benefits and increasing pressure on some of the most
vulnerable in society, without increasing the public resources aimed at
helping them. Where do you stand on the Green Paper on welfare reform?

The Green Paper ignores that fact that over half of the adults
living in poverty in the UK are in work, largely thanks to the poverty trap Labour has created with the prevalence of means-tested benefits.

Personalised back to work support represents progress, but the paper fails to address the needs of those with mental health problems, who make up 40% of those on incapacity benefit.

The Conservatives have resoundingly failed to explain how they would deal with any of these issues, concentrating on scoring cheap political points instead of providing substance.

The paper
represents a step in the right direction, but there are potential pitfalls for child poverty and vulnerable people which must be addressed before the bill is presented to parliament.

Q3. PCS is concerned that the government has privatised more of the
civil service since 1997 than the Conservative government did in 18 years.  These privatisations are costly and unnecessary as they are jeopardising services being delivered to the public. Where do you stand on privatising public services, such as the delivery of employment services, or security in Revenue & Customs?

The key aim of any Government should be to provide high quality
public services in the most efficient manner possible, regardless of whether this is done through the public or private sector.

If the private sector can provide a high quality of public service in a cost effective manner it should be welcomed, but equally we must appreciate there are many services that are best provided by the public sector.