Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, delivered his Autumn Statement to Parliament yesterday (29 November 2011 – full details of the statement are available on the Treasury website).

This came the day before unprecedented strike action was due to take place, and the public sector took another big hit: 

• Public sector pay awards will be set at an average of one per cent for each of the two years after the current pay freeze comes to an end – in the NHS this will be in April 2013.
• The independent Pay Review Bodies are being asked to consider how public sector pay can be made more responsive to local labour markets, to report by July 2012.
• A call for evidence will be completed on the effectiveness of the TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) regulations and the Government will consult on proposals for any changes in early 2012.
• The Government will consult on the content of anonymised ‘fit note’ data to be published from 2012, to drive innovation in the occupational health sector and improve management of sickness absence.

We will see today if this adds to the pension debate!