Although many London-based staff receive a weighting allowance, most public sector staff are subject to the same rates of pay whether they work in the north or the south.

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It has also emerged that an allowance for staff who have to drive their cars as part of their work has been cancelled.

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Staff are using this allowance during the scare.

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But the University and College Union, which represents lecturers and other staff, said raising tuition fees and scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance would counteract any attempt to improve social mobility.

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But, whereas at the moment a member of staff who swaps to a day shift to undergo some training loses that allowance, under the new system they will not.

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