THE prospect of a Winter of Discontent next year receded last night after some trade unions looked near to agreement with the UK Government on its controversial reform of public-sector pensions.

Unison, the health union, raised hopes of a breakthrough after it said it was taking an outline deal to its executive early next month.

A senior union source noted: "A 'heads of agreement' has indeed been reached (on health) ... Similarly, we're expecting the same in local government and, hopefully, some progress in the civil service scheme as well, but teacher talks are ongoing."

However, the biggest civil service union flatly rejected the Government's latest offer. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: "Nothing has changed since two million public-sector workers were on strike on November 30, and we continue to oppose the Government's attempt to force public servants to pay more and work longer for less."

Yet, Prospect, the second- largest civil service union, further underlined the cracks in trade union ranks by saying it had agreed to further negotiations and would put the main elements of the proposed scheme to its executive in January.

Political pressure is expected to be applied to unions to do a deal when Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, updates MPs in a Commons statement later today.

Last month, union chiefs hailed what they said was the largest display of trade union industrial action since the late-1970s, estimating two million people – 300,000 in Scotland – went on strike, protesting at proposed changes to their pensions, which would mean, for most, working longer and receiving less.

The Government, which insists the deal is a very good one compared to most in the private sector, put the turnout at nearer one million, with Prime Minister David Cameron dismissing the strike as "a damp squib".

It seems ministers' guarantees that low-paid workers and those over 50 would see their pensions largely unaffected by the changes might have helped produce a breakthrough – with the health union, at least.

Unison, which represents 450,000 NHS workers UK-wide, said it was taking the Government's offer to its membership-led health committee, which is due to meet on January 10.

"This is the Government's final offer," declared Christina McAnea, the union's head of health. "On some issues, such as contribution rates for the low-paid next year and for people close to retirement, we have made progress. On others, we always knew this would be a damage-limitation exercise aimed at reducing the worst impacts of the Government's pension changes."

Downing Street said: "We have always said we wanted to reach an agreement by the end of the year. We remain hopeful that that can be done."

The negotiations affect Scotland in different ways. Any agreed deal on the civil service would apply UK-wide. Pension schemes for teachers and NHS staff also cover the whole of the UK. Local government schemes, however, are different north and south of the Border.

In terms of pension schemes for teachers and NHS staff, the Scottish Government has the ability to vary the details, but only with Treasury permission.

Already, there has been a cross-Border dispute, with Scottish ministers claiming, in austere times, they do not have the money because Whitehall has said it would take £100 million from the Scottish block grant, were Holyrood to vary the details.

In response, Whitehall has pointed out that Holyrood accepted Treasury money in the full knowledge it was only available because of the increased pension contributions from public sector workers.

Last night, Grahame Smith, general secretary of the STUC, told The Herald he did not know the details of the ongoing discussions but said: "I'm cautiously optimistic the Government is seeing sense and making concessions and respecting the concerns of public-sector unions.

"Without knowing the details, it's a bit premature to say this is the beginning of the end of the dispute."

He added: "I would want to see where Scottish Government ministers stand on the proposals."

Mr Smith said that while John Swinney, the Scottish Finance Secretary, was not able to vary the pension arrangements for civil servants, he could lift a pay freeze.