U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron pledged more action to dealwith “excess” in pay in the finance industry as he said the country“will get through” a difficult year.

In his New Year message, Cameron said the eyes of the world willbe on Britain in 2012, with the Olympic Games in London and thecelebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne. “Itgives us an extraordinary incentive to look outward, look onwardsand to look our best: to feel pride in who we are and what — evenin these trying times — we can achieve,” he said.

Assuring families struggling with inflation and young peopleunable to find work amid weak economic growth that he understandstheir concerns, Cameron pledged to be “bold about working to curethe problems of our society.”

“While a few at the top get rewards that seem to have nothing todo with the risks they take or the effort they put in, many othersare stuck on benefits, without hope or responsibility,” the premiersaid. “So we will tackle excess in the City just as we're reformingwelfare to make work pay and support families,” he said, in areference to London's financial district.

This year will see Cameron hit the halfway stage of hisfive-year term. The premier said he'll take action on shortcomingsin the public sector.

“Too often our schools aren't up to scratch, our hospitalsaren't always clean enough and our police don't catch criminals,”he said. “Brilliant and committed people work in public services —but somehow the system stops them doing their job. So we'll changeit.”

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