HC Deb 23 March 1967 vol 743 cc1903-4
31. Mr. Scott

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what authority negotiations on teachers' salaries have been suspended.

29. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the suspension of negotiations on teachers' salaries in the Burnham Committee pending an announcement of Government policy on incomes after 1st July, 1967.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

My right hon. Friend told the associations represented on the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee when he saw them yesterday that, following publication of the Command Paper setting out the Government's incomes policy for the period from 1st July onwards, they could arrange a meeting after Easter in the assurance that the management panel would then be able to respond to the teachers' panel's claim.

Mr. Scott

First, have any other group of people had their negotiations postponed, as opposed to having an award postponed, as a result of the Government's prices and incomes policy? Second, can the hon. Lady say whether, when the negotiations have been completed, the award will be back-dated to 1st April, when the teachers should have had their pay increase?

Mrs. Williams

I cannot answer all the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question without notice, particularly as it relates to all other groups in the community. My knowledge on this subject is not as wide as that.

Negotiations were not broken off by the management panel of the Burnham Committee but were suspended till the Government's incomes policy was known. As regards the question of back payment, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that my right hon. Friend is merely one of the representatives on the management panel, and I could not, therefore, anticipate what decisions will be reached between the management panel and the teachers' panel.