Report comment

Speaking as a civil servant, Mr Crawford, I've had a wage freeze for the last four years, missed out on two years worth of a previous rise while I was 'on loan' to a different department, and expect to see no wage rise for the foreseeable future - quite possibly until I retire. Which won't be until I'm 68, 70 if I can make it, as I can't afford to. And I'm one of the better off grades. Factor in the effect of inflation and I think you can take it that civil servants on the whole have had a wage cut in real terms that is getting on for the 10% you suggest.