HC Deb 23 June 1965 vol 714 cc1741-4
19. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that certain officials in his Department who were employed in positions on lower grades in accordance with redundancy agreements retain their previous salary on personal basis, but that no provision is made for the declining value of such mark-time salaries through inflation; and what steps he will take to adjust this position.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I have nothing to add to what my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary said yesterday.

Mr. Taylor

Does the Minister expect me to be satisfied with that reply when the Answer which I received yesterday was simply "No"? Would he not agree that he should adopt a rather more flexible attitude to the problem when the hardship of his own employees is involved? Does he appreciate that under the present arrangements, people on these mark-time salaries will suffer increasing hardship as the years go by and the value of money goes down and down?

Mr. Jenkins

It is not true that my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary yesterday said only "No". He gave two long supplementary answers which went fully into the matter. I understand the position, but there are difficulties. An arrangement has been made whereby these people suffer no immediate loss of salary and receive higher salaries than people who do the same job alongside them. It is not possible to go further than that.

Mr. Younger

I fully accept the Minister's great difficulties, but would he not agree that there is a case for looking at the matter a little more carefully, as the people concerned are likely to remain on precisely the same salary for as long as eight or ten years, which, whatever the rights and wrongs, seems to many of us to be rather unreasonable in view of inflation?

Mr. Jenkins

I have looked carefully into the matter, and I will certainly look at it again, but I certainly cannot hold out any hope of a change.