A debate on pay in one of Britain’s hardest-hit regions will be held by public service union Unison today.

Research revealed that north-east England has suffered more under the coalition government’s austerity attacks than any other region.

Unison, which has 80,000 members in the region, says cuts have had a devastating impact on jobs and service, and falling real-terms wages are causing widespread suffering, with workers having to turn to food banks.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis will speak in the debate at the Vermont Hotel in Newcastle, which runs from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.

Regional convenor Clare Williams said, “Across all our members, in whichever service they work, the key issue is pay.

“We are seeing our members’ pay frozen and its value cut from between 10 per cent to 18 per cent since 2010.

“Those on low pay are really struggling to survive, many being forced to seek assistance from food banks.”