More than half the cost of the local government pay claim would be offset by the increase in returns to the Treasury in tax and national insurance, Unison has claimed. 

According to the union, 55% of its £1.20 pay claim for local government and school support workers  would be paid for by extra tax, and  lower in-work benefit claims. A report from the New Policy Institute reveals the pay claim would bring central government an additional £420m in tax, £160 in lower benefit spending and £190m from extra national insurance.