Pay for civil servants

That this House supports the Public and Commercial Services union’s demand for a fair pay rise for civil servants; expresses concern that, with general inflation at a 40-year high of around ten per cent, the Government’s proposal to give its workers just a two per cent increase is nowhere enough, especially as it comes after over a decade of pay restraint; is alarmed that, according to a recent Public and Commercial Services union survey, 85 per cent of members say the cost-of-living crisis has affected their physical or mental health, 35 per cent say they have skipped meals because they have no food, and almost one in five admit to missing work because they can’t afford transport or fuel to get there; believes that a workforce that helped keep the country running during the covid-19 pandemic deserve to be treated fairly and to be properly rewarded for their efforts; and calls on the Government to come back with an offer that reflects the rising cost of living and the dedication that workers have shown.