Local or Regional Pay is flawed

Fundamentally inaccurate is the assertion by the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, that private sector pay is set in accordance with local labour markets. Data mined by independent research bodies actually reveal that most large, multi-site, private sector companies have national pay structures.

Therefore, despite the government's desire to justify more attacks on public sector pay – right across the public sector – it is important to recognise that the private sector has abandoned the concept of local/regional pay.