PCS: Ministers can not be trusted to be honest with public – Serwotka
Responding to allegations that the government covered up advice that its plans to cap welfare payments could make 20,000 more families homeless, Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said minsters "can not be trusted to be honest with the public".
The revelation comes days after government ministers were exposed for misleading the public about the affordability of public sector pensions.
In a speech prime minister David Cameron said public sector pensions were "in danger of going broke", and in media interviews Treasury minister Justine Greening and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude claimed the Hutton report found the pensions were "unaffordable" and "untenable".
The Hutton report says no such thing, as has been highlighted in the media, most notably when Mr Maude appeared on Radio 4's Today programme on the morning of last Thursday's (30) strike. In fact, the report confirms the costs are falling in the long term.
– Listen to the Today programme interview: http://bbc.in/serwotkamaude
Following the Today interview, Mr Maude then turned down every other request to be interviewed with the union's general secretary, pulling out of a debate on Channel 4 News just 20 minutes before the broadcast.
The union, which represents 84,000 staff in the Department for Work and Pensions, has consistently opposed plans to cut welfare, arguing they unnecessarily target the most vulnerable people in society.
Mark Serwotka said: "Last week the government's true agenda was rumbled, with ministers exposed for making misleading statements about the viability of public sector pensions. Now we learn that, despite repeatedly denying it, the government does believe its ideologically-driven welfare cap could increase homelessness.
"It appears ministers can not be trusted to be honest with the public and the question is, how many more of their policies are being shrouded in dishonesty, half-truths and spin?"
ENDS
Notes
– For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216
– The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has around 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and 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 – on Twitter @janicegodrich
– Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union
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