Public sector needs tackling

GEORGINA Packham, the retired local government worker, last week (Herald, April 29) replied to my letter of April 15 by suggesting I get my facts right.

Read Georgina Packham's letter here.

So, I have checked my facts, Georgina Packham, and they are these - the public sector pension deficit for 2009 stood at just short of 1.2 trillion (equivalent to 85 per cent of GDP).

In the three months to the end of November, 2009, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) recorded the average public sector salary was 23,660, in comparison to the average private sector salary of 21,528.

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In the same period, the ONS recorded the public sector annual average salary increases of 3.8 per cent, compared to 0.2 per cent in the same period in the private sector.

Public sector workers on average are entitled to retire at 60 compared to 65 in the private sector and, finally, public sector workers on average take 50 per cent more sick days than their counterparts in the private sector.

So, Georgina Packham, I am sorry if the truth makes uncomfortable reading for you, but the facts are we can no longer afford such a large and generous public sector and whoever wins the election is going to have to tackle this problem.

Derek Price

Poulters Lane

Worthing

NOTE: All letters must include a name and address.

Write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA, or email the Herald.

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