Wednesday 10 December 2003

Pre-Budget Report - UNISON reaction

General Secretary Dave Prentis, said: "We are pleased that the Chancellor has stuck to his guns and continued to invest properly in our public services; that he has allowed borrowing temporarily to take the strain and we share his optimism for the economy.

"Particularly welcome is the extra money targetted at children which will help reduce child poverty. And the new measures to help working parents - UNISON has campaigned for years to get decent child care."

Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary said "We are pleased that the overall level of investment for public services is being maintained. We need to wait and see what the funding break down is here in Scotland, before we can assess the impact on individual services.

"We are however, very concerned that changing the way of calculating inflation will be used as an excuse to cut public sector pay increases. To revitalise Scotland's public services we need to pay attractive salaries to attract the nurses, social workers, nursery nurses and other public service staff we need to deliver the improved services we all want."

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Matt Smith (Scottish Secretary) 0845 355 0845(w) 07771 548 997(m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558 3729(m)

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