§ 47. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health on how many occasions during the last six months he has sought deferment of the consideration of pay claims by Whitley Councils, or otherwise intervened in the normal processes of negotiation.
§ Mr. PowellI have on two occasions asked management sides to seek deferment pending further guidance to my representatives. I do not accept that this is intervention in the normal processes.
§ Mr. RobinsonHow does the Minister reconcile these actions with the assurance that he gave in the communication that he sent last August to Whitley Councils in which he said that normal negotiations should proceed subject only to a reservation about the date of implementation? Does he think this sort of action is going to encourage confidence in the Whitley system?
§ Mr. PowellIt is a normal feature of these negotiations that the management side and my representatives on the management side should wish to take 912 my guidance, and there may be circumstances in which that necessitates my asking for a deferment.
§ Mr. RobinsonIt is a different matter if the management side asks for the right hon. Gentleman's guidance, rather than the right hon. Gentleman himself initiating this kind of delay.
§ Mr. PowellIt depends on the management side. I can only request them to make a deferment and they have to consider whether it is reasonable to do so.