WIREDGOV

Accusing the government of beginning a bidding war on who can cut the most, PCS warned that the delivery of public services could suffer as a result of plans outlined in today's report, Putting the Front Line First. The report comes days after unilateral changes to the civil service compensation scheme which are aimed at cutting civil and public service jobs on the cheap.

The plans run contrary to the advice of Sir Peter Gershon’s 2004 report which led to 100,000 civil and public service jobs being cut. Gershon said that going further than the ‘efficiencies’ he outlined in his efficiency review, would damage the delivery of frontline services.

The union went on to accuse the government of holding the ‘sale of century’ as it planned a fire sale of key assets and agencies.

Whilst not opposed in principle to the relocation of civil servants, the union also warned against forced relocations and called on the government to address concerns on the disproportionate impact relocation can have on Black and Minority Ethnic workers, particularly.

The union also warned that relocation plans would need to be based on robust business plans. At the Office for National Statistics, for example, management were publicly criticised for failing to maintain the quality of its service following a move from central London to Newport in south Wales. Estimates have suggested the move will take a staggering 25 years to pay for itself.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "This really is a case of deja vu, with cuts once again dressed up as efficiencies. What we are seeing today is the continuation of a bidding war on who can cut the most with little thought for the impact on public services.

"Added to which you have the government preparing for the sale of the century with a fire sale of key assets and agencies.

Cutting arms length bodies may sound all well and good, but let’s not forget that these are organisations that the government themselves set up and include organisations such as Jobcentre Plus

"Cutting arms length bodies may sound all well and good, but let’s not forget that these are organisations that the government themselves set up and include organisations such as Jobcentre Plus. The government has to ask itself what it is going to stop doing.

"Whilst not against relocation in principle, they should not be forced, hit the Black and Minority Ethnic community disproportionately or be based on flimsy business plans which offer no value to the taxpayer.

"In ignoring the advice of Sir Peter Gershon and making the false divide between the back office and the frontline, the government are in danger of fundamentally damaging public services. Rather than repeating the same mantra on inefficiencies the government should focus on collecting the tens of billions of uncollected, evaded and avoided tax.

"Those who caused the financial crisis should pay their fair share, not public services and the people who deliver them."