PCS: Civil Service Union responds to Queen's Speech

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:00 AM

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) warned that the Fiscal Responsibility Bill in today's Queen's Speech on halving the public deficit in four years, shouldn't be seen as a green light to slash and privatise public services.

Responding to the Queen's Speech the union warned that civil and public servants would be needed to deliver the bills announced by the government today. Pointing to at least £100 billion of uncollected, evaded and avoided tax, the union urged the government to reverse cuts to HM Revenue and Customs in order to clamp down on tax cheats and bring the public deficit down.

The union went on to argue that growth and investment rather than cuts was the best way to halve the public deficit, warning that cuts to public services would hit people when they needed the help the most and take money out of the economy.

Commenting, Mark Serwtoka, PCS general secretary, said: "Civil and public servants will be needed to implement the bills contained in the Queen's Speech. The bill on halving the public deficit should not be seen as a green light to slash and privatise vital public services. Investment rather than cuts, combined with a drive to tackle over £100 billion in uncollected, evaded and avoided tax is the best way to tackle the public deficit. Ordinary people should not be made to pay for a crisis caused by the casino capitalism of the City and the banks."

Notes to editors:

·For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 020 7801 2820 or 07833 978216.

PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.

Alex Flynn
National Press Officer
Public and Commercial Services Union
160 Falcon Rd
London SW11 2LN

Direct line: 020 7801 2747
Mobile: 07833 978 216
Fax: 020 7924 1847

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