Union calls for 'fair' pay system for public servants

Responding on Friday's BBC Radio 4's PM programme to Conservative leader David Cameron's proposal to cut ministers' pay by 25%, FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume advised caution and stressed the need to wait for the outcome of the Committee on Standards in Public Life's report on MPs' pay.

He said an easy way to partly cut the cost of politics would be to reduce the number of junior ministers.

"There are too many currently and it would be better government if you have fewer ministers in the round."

He also pointed to the indirect link between ministers' pay and that of other senior public servants.

Baume added that the Public Administration Select Committee was currently looking at executive pay in the public sector. He said: "Everyone wants to be confident that the pay for senior politicians and senior public servants is felt to be fair and is delivering value for money."

PM Interview with FDA general secretary - 14 August 2009
BBC Radio 4 PM programme (15 mins 30 secs into programme and 29 mins 30 secs into programme)