Chief secretary to the Treasury

The Treasury has proposed to give the Scottish government the power to issue its own bonds.

Unions have rejected a government suggestion to hold a 15-minute symbolic strike instead of a day of industrial action over cuts to public sector pensions.

The government has offered unions an improved accrual rate of 1/60th and more protection for workers approaching retirement in a concession on public sector pension changes.

Local government pension schemes will be free to reform the fund and deliver savings to government without imposing a 3.2 percentage point increase on employees' contributions, PP understands.

Extending talks on public sector pension reforms will not stave off strike action if the government continues its current pathway to reform state worker pensions, the Trades Union Congress says.

The Treasury has set out the government's progress on public service pension reform - announcing consultations and plans for talks with unions. Here are the key points of today's announcement.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander gave a speech on public service pensions to the Institute for Public Policy Research this afternoon. Here is what he said in full.