UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector trade union, today (31 July) called on the Government to put a stop to costly plans for ID cards, calling on them to pump cash into communities through spending on public services instead.
It was revealed today that the ID card scheme has already cost more than £215 million, and could need a further £5 billion funding over the next ten years. The union is calling on the Government to use this cash to fund services, including plugging serious shortages in children’s social work, and care services, as well as expanding their Future Jobs Fund.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
ÒPublic services are the rescue remedy for getting communities through difficult times. From debt advice to housing, they are helping families cope with the worst effects of the recession. Instead of wasting billions on ID cards, the Government should be shoring up public services now, and for the future.
ÒThere are already serious shortages of social and home care workers that leave children and vulnerable people exposed. These billions could fund new hospitals, schools and expand much needed job creation programmes Ð a vital investment in our future.
ÒThis Government has made good progress in moving away from the Tory legacy by regenerating public services. But if cuts are made in the future, we risk turning back the clock, leaving families and communities to pay the price.Ó
Instead of spending £5billion on ID cards and biometric passports and database, the Government could spend money on:
á £500m would allow the government to recruit an extra 10,000 children’s social workers this year, bringing child protection caseloads back down to manageable levels.
á £1.5billion would fund 50,000 more hospital cleaners for the NHS, taking staffing back up to the levels of the 1980s before the cuts that created current problems with hospital acquired infections.
á £2billion would allow local authorities to provide home care services to 370,000 people currently denied it due to funding constraints, and in the process create the equivalent of 80,000 full time jobs.
á £2.8 billion would secure equal pay in local government, boosting the spending power of hundreds of thousands of women providing vital services to local communities.
á A one-off investment of £5 billion would fund a local authority-led programme to improve energy efficiency by upgrading 10 million homes currently without cavity wall and loft insulation, creating 20,000 new jobs.
ENDS