A walkout by Whitehall civil servants has been averted after last-minute talks. A letter from the head of the civil service, Sir Gus O'Donnell, to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union led to an announcement that industrial action by 200,000 staff, planned for 10 November, would be suspended for 28 days. Fresh talks with civil service managers will now continue to address concerns over pay. Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: ‘Our national industrial action has been suspended. I welcome the dialogue and hope an agreement is possible.'