GOVERNMENT workers are getting into thousands of pounds of debt each to pay rent and bills, their union said ahead of a parliamentary debate today.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union told of their financial problems after a PCS-organised petition calling for “a fair pay rise” for government workers was signed by more than 100,000 people, triggering the Westminster Hall debate.

The petition notes that Civil Service pay has fallen in value by up to 20 per cent in the last 10 years, causing increased hardship for workers in government departments, non-departmental public bodies and facilities management staff on outsourced government contracts.