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| Pension strikes could costs jobs, say ministers | Pension strikes could costs jobs, say ministers |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Widespread public sector strikes next week could cost the economy £500m and lead to job losses, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has said. | Widespread public sector strikes next week could cost the economy £500m and lead to job losses, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has said. |
| Mr Maude said the Treasury had made the estimate based on lower output in the public and private sector. | Mr Maude said the Treasury had made the estimate based on lower output in the public and private sector. |
| He said: "If you lose a big chunk of output, it's hard to see how that doesn't translate into lost jobs." | He said: "If you lose a big chunk of output, it's hard to see how that doesn't translate into lost jobs." |
| More than two million workers are expected to strike on 30 November over changes to public sector pensions. | More than two million workers are expected to strike on 30 November over changes to public sector pensions. |
| There has been deadlock between the government and unions over pension changes, despite months of negotiations. | There has been deadlock between the government and unions over pension changes, despite months of negotiations. |
| Classrooms closed | Classrooms closed |
| Unions say their members will be left worse off by proposals which will require them to work longer before collecting their pension and having to contribute more - but the government says change is needed, to keep down the cost to the taxpayer as people are living longer. | Unions say their members will be left worse off by proposals which will require them to work longer before collecting their pension and having to contribute more - but the government says change is needed, to keep down the cost to the taxpayer as people are living longer. |
| The BBC has learned that civil servants from across Whitehall are being lined up to fill in for border staff at UK ports and airports on the day, amid fears of major disruption for travellers. | The BBC has learned that civil servants from across Whitehall are being lined up to fill in for border staff at UK ports and airports on the day, amid fears of major disruption for travellers. |
| On Wednesday the prime minister urged employers to allow their staff to bring their children to work, if it is safe to do so, predicting that the strike would close "most of the classrooms in our country". | On Wednesday the prime minister urged employers to allow their staff to bring their children to work, if it is safe to do so, predicting that the strike would close "most of the classrooms in our country". |
| At a briefing on Thursday, ministers said they expect two thirds of schools to close, and although clinical and medical staff in hospitals will work - the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing are not taking industrial action - some staff in hospitals will be on strike which would cause some delays. | At a briefing on Thursday, ministers said they expect two thirds of schools to close, and although clinical and medical staff in hospitals will work - the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing are not taking industrial action - some staff in hospitals will be on strike which would cause some delays. |
| But they said they would not be calling on the Army to step in and were not expecting emergency services to be hit. | But they said they would not be calling on the Army to step in and were not expecting emergency services to be hit. |
| Earlier this month the government came forward with a revised offer - which would guarantee no-one within 10 years of retirement would have to work longer or see their pension income fall and includes the promise of more generous rates of accrual - the rate at which the value of a pension builds up. | Earlier this month the government came forward with a revised offer - which would guarantee no-one within 10 years of retirement would have to work longer or see their pension income fall and includes the promise of more generous rates of accrual - the rate at which the value of a pension builds up. |
| 'Worst case scenario' | 'Worst case scenario' |
| On Thursday Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said there was "no more money on the table" to settle the dispute and the government had made a "very good offer". | On Thursday Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said there was "no more money on the table" to settle the dispute and the government had made a "very good offer". |
| He told the BBC the £500m estimate was a "reasonably worst case scenario" - based on the impact of all members of the unions who balloted over the strike not turning up to work. It took into account the knock-on effect on the private sector, such as parents who had to find childcare. | He told the BBC the £500m estimate was a "reasonably worst case scenario" - based on the impact of all members of the unions who balloted over the strike not turning up to work. It took into account the knock-on effect on the private sector, such as parents who had to find childcare. |
| He urged union members to look at the deal the government is offering to see how their pensions would be affected - and said he believed a resolution that would be a good deal to both public sector workers and the taxpayer was "within our grasp". | |
| BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said ministers had not said how many jobs could be lost. | BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said ministers had not said how many jobs could be lost. |
| Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services Union told the BBC the changes were unfair, the government was making "false" claims about public sector pensions and their plans would force people to "work longer, pay more and get less". | Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services Union told the BBC the changes were unfair, the government was making "false" claims about public sector pensions and their plans would force people to "work longer, pay more and get less". |
| "Rather than plan properly for 30 November, they've been engaging in a PR exercise, putting out misleading information to try and force through damaging changes that are unfair," he said. | "Rather than plan properly for 30 November, they've been engaging in a PR exercise, putting out misleading information to try and force through damaging changes that are unfair," he said. |
| "They could stop this strike even now, instead of scratching around trying to put untrained people on the front line, they should say today they want urgent talks to try and resolve the dispute." | "They could stop this strike even now, instead of scratching around trying to put untrained people on the front line, they should say today they want urgent talks to try and resolve the dispute." |