Commenting on the report, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said, "Once again the Chancellor has proved that the economy is safe under his stewardship.  We welcome the Chancellor's committment to continuing investment in our public services which has enabled public service workers to deliver real year on year improvements".

"However, artificial pay restraint would jeopardise all the positive initiatives to improve recruitment and retention problems throughout the public sector and could undermine morale" Prentis warned.

"The Chancellor's plans to introduce local planning gain supplements were positive" saod Prentis.  "Supplements will allow local authorities to tap into the profits made by property developers to make sure that where new homes are built, we will also get the new schools, libraries and roads and public transport needed to develop sustainable communities">

The Chancellor alo announced an extention of shared ownership schemes for first-time buyers, but Prentis warned that home ownership was still out of reach for many low pail public sector workers.

"While we welcome pilot projects for rented accommodation, local authorities should be given the means to invest in council housing to bring down waiting lists" he said.

Brown also announced that families claiming tax credit will, in future only have to tell the government if their annual income changes by more than £25,000, the previous limit was £2,500.

"The Chancellor has listened to representations from UNISON and has put an end to the misery of surprise tax-credit claw backs suffered by ordinary families, when their incomes rise", said Prentis.