10. To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations she has received on proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement. (304990)

On 31 July we published our proposals to reform the Civil Service Compensation scheme. Correspondence has been received from over 200 Members and the Cabinet Office has received over 18,000 emails and letters in response to the consultation. Officials have had numerous meetings with the civil service unions since July 2008, and Ministers met the unions on 22 September to listen to their views. In the light of representations significant changes which provide better outcomes for the lowest paid civil servants, while still delivering the savings committed to. Overall, the new package—announced last Friday—provides fairer outcomes to civil servants and to taxpayers.