§ 22. Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among scientific workers in Scottish universities at the rejection of their salary revaluation proposals; and if he will now reopen negotiations.
§ Mr. CroslandThe salaries of university technicians are the subject of negotiations between a sub-committee of the Universities' Committee on Technical Staffs and the Unions concerned. Neither the Government nor the University Grants Committee nor the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals are parties to the negotiations. I understand that an offer was made by the sub-committee 1444 at a meeting on 16th November, and that negotiations are continuing.
§ Mr. YoungerWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, in any influence he may have on the negotiations, that these workers are paid considerably less than workers doing closely comparable work in the National Health Service, and will he accept his responsibility in making sure that, being a small body, they are not victimised just because they have not the strength which a larger union might have in resisting the difficulties of the incomes policy?
§ Mr. CroslandI am not a party to these negotiations and I would, therefore, prefer to make no further statement as long as they are proceeding.