“Name of MP

Constituency”
October 2009

Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS)

Dear “Name of MP”
I am writing to voice my dismay (to say the least) at yet another Government attack on Civil
Servants. The CSCS is a fair scheme that allows reduction in Civil Service staff numbers to be
managed and compensates those who assist government policy by leaving with either cash sums
that recognise the extreme disruption to their lives caused by their employment being removed from
them, or by early retirement after a life time of loyal service to the Government on generally
unacceptable rates of pay.
With regard to pay it is worth bearing in mind that there has been no ‘golden decade’ for us, as there
has been for some. In common with much of the public sector, the pay of Civil Servants has been
suppressed, and has positively nose dived in the last 3 years, a problem hugely exacerbated by the
double whammy of having the costs of our Pay Progression costed against Annual (or Triennial) pay
rounds, which no other part of the public sector has to suffer.
The proposals to tear up the CSCS would be better characterised as ‘Meanness for all’. I would
make the point that the CSCS would not be an issue if the Government had not embarked
on a ludicrous programme of cutting 100,000 jobs – and more have followed since then.
In the Fylde we have seen the closure of the St Anne’s site, which housed 2,500 staff at its peak,
1,000 empty desks at Norcross, empty space at Warbreck Hill on top of the closure of 4 Disability
Benefit Centres, more work and less staff means the work not being done properly, and 1100 more
jobs to be cut from PDCS this year.
This cannot continue.
The effect of these job losses on the local economy cannot be other than very
significant. The Civil Service as a source of youth employment has all but dried up. Any growth in
Jobcentre Plus (which Government intends to be temporary) cannot compensate for the
contraction of the major centres on the Fylde, and at the same time, public service is
already suffering and will continue to deteriorate unless the Government halts and revises its current
programme.
Nor will spending cuts assist the economy. On the contrary spending cuts in the form of job cuts or
cuts in pay will have the effect of increasing unemployment and could contribute to bringing about a
terminal impoverishment of the majority of the British population.
On the other hand, the richest in society have been able to engorge themselves during the last
decade. I believe the Sunday Times Rich List makes the point that the richest 1,000 people, despite
losing £155 billion, own £258 billion, three times more wealth than in 1997. It has been pointed out
that a 10% wealth tax on the richest 1,000 people alone would generate £25 billion. The Tax Justice
campaign points out that the finances would be considerably improved if Tax Avoidance were
clamped down on, yet the Government is actually encouraging Tax Avoidance by closing HMRC
offices. Yet more Civil Service job losses, and now they want to do it on the cheap.
We ask you to place increased pressure on Ministers to
(a) Demand that the job cuts stop, and that a proper evaluation of staffing levels is
carried out, in which we believe PCS should be invited to play its full part, and
(b) Place pressure on Ministers to withdraw the attack on the CSCS. The
Government should be setting an example in terms of employment conditions,
not joining in a race to the bottom.
Yours Sincerely