LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY AWARD

That this House is aware that trades unions and employers in the UK's local government sector are currently engaged in pay negotiations through the National Joint Council mechanism; understands that employers' representatives to this body have recently offered the paltry sum of a two per cent. increase in current pay rates, which taking into account factors such as inflation and today's Retail Price Index represents in real terms a pay cut for this dedicated group of workers; and calls on the Government to inform those in charge of managing local services that such a derisory offer is both insulting and unacceptable and that they should instead examine forthwith ways of better remunerating this fine loyal and hard working group of public servants.