According to the BBC report -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7232379.stm
Downing Street said this pay award was for a different pay round than the controversial settlements imposed on other public sector workers for 2007-08.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said: "The government continues to believe there needs to be discipline in relation to public sector pay and we need to set awards in line with the government's inflation target."
Decisions have to be taken year by year, sector by sector, he said. He added decisions on pay in relation to public sector workers for this year have not yet been made.
This is a particularly good vintage of spin. I am most definitely confused.