Scott challenges Salmond on public sector pay (Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats <info@aberdeensouthlibdems.org.uk>

Scott challenges Salmond on public sector pay

January 21, 2010 1:08 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting after challenging the First Minister to cut the pay bill for high earning public sector workers, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott MSP said: "This week we learned that unemployment in Scotland is up. But we've also learned that quango bosses have ignored Government requests and refused to give up hundreds and thousands of pounds of bonuses. They are utterly wrong.Tavish Scott: Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

"People looking for work would support our Parliament and this Government if money from high paid quango bosses could be used to support new opportunities for young people without jobs and businesses struggling to get through the recession.

"The First Minister knows fine well that Vince Cable's pay policy is to allow pay increases of £400 a year. This means above inflation increases for the low paid, but the very well paid in the public sector will have to make do with less. We explained this last Thursday to the Finance Secretary.

"But whatever the First Minister decides to do with public pay, he must steer clear of the unfair Tory proposals.

"The Conservatives have it entirely wrong on pay. Their pay freeze on any salary of £18,000, will hit the nurses and newly qualified teachers to pay for the Tory tax breaks for millionaires.

"But the Tories have also admitted that their policy will apply to the armed forces. A Lance Corporal coming home from Afghanistan would find that the Tories had cut his pay in real terms while he'd be away."

Notes:

During the Stage One Budget debate, Derek Brownlee confirmed to Lib Dem Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis that the Tory pay freeze plan would apply to the Armed Forces.

Jeremy Purvis: Can he confirm that the pay freeze for those who receive pay of more than £18,000 would apply to Army personnel and the police in Scotland?

Derek Brownlee: We have made it clear that, in delivering more for less, the incentives that we are talking about are separate from the pay freeze from 2011-12, which would apply to everyone in public service who earns more than £18,000, including MSPs.