Jeremy Hunt defends NHS pay squeeze

Unions have reacted with anger to news of a fresh round of below-inflation pay rises for NHS staff in England.

Ministers have announced a basic 1% pay rise, but the 600,000 nurses and other staff receiving automatic "progression-in-job" increases, "typically worth over 3%", will not get the 1% as well.

The main health service unions in England said they would consult members on taking industrial action.

Defending the move, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he would like to be more generous, but he was trying to avoid laying off staff.