The Privy Council and the Queen have granted the government special powers which could be used to maintain essential services like hospitals and schools.

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Staffing levels are so stretched that the essential services that the nurses were ordered to maintain during the strike actually increased the numbers on duty in some hospitals.

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It went on: "If this extra income does not rise at least at the same rate as student and staff numbers then it will be difficult to maintain the premium services that the university and colleges provide (and which are essential to preserve the character of Cambridge)".

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