Submitted by:
Mary Scanlon,
Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged:
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Motion type: Motion For Debate
Motion reference: S4M-01348
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, 17 November 2011
Motions as amended
S4M-01348 Mary Scanlon: The Role of the Public Sector—That the Parliament recognises the very valuable contribution that the public sector makes to the economy and society; believes that pensions must be fair, sustainable and affordable; considers that the 3.2% increase in contributions proposed by the UK Government is a cash grab that has more to do with deficit reduction than fair pensions; acknowledges that these increases come at a time when households are under financial pressure due to rising costs, and encourages the Scottish Government to continue to engage in full and extensive dialogue with trades unions and employers’ representatives on the future of pension provisions.
Vote
Result92 for, 20 against, 2 abstained, 14 did not voteAgreed
That the Parliament recognises the very valuable contribution that the public sector makes to the economy and society; accepts that, while government has an obligation to ensure that public sector employees are well rewarded with good quality pension schemes, there is an urgent need for reform, believing that the proposed reforms will ease the burden on taxpayers and still leave public sector employees in a far better position than their counterparts in many private sector schemes, and further believes that the planned strikes by the unions on 30 November 2011 are a deeply irresponsible action at this time and will do nothing to help Scotland’s recovery from the recession.