Following the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's statement on public service pensions, Anne Main urges the unions to accept the offer as the most realistic long-term solution and not take industrial action over the winter.

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con): I share the disappointment at the rather lukewarm response on the Labour Benches. May I ask my right hon. Friend to stress to the unions that this is not the opening salvo in further negotiations, so they really should take this as a realistic opportunity to come up with a long-term solution for the 25-year period that would be best for the taxpayer?

I sincerely hope that the unions take that in the spirit in which it is intended so that we do not have industrial action over the winter.

Danny Alexander: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments. I sensed from our earlier discussions that the trade unions recognised that this was a constructive step by the Government. It is the best offer that is going to be on the table; I think it is important that it is understood in that sense.

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