HC Deb 04 November 1965 vol 718 cc1220-1
42. Mr. Grimond

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the total of wage and salary increases at present being demanded; and how this compares with the norm aimed at by the Government and with the situation six months ago.

Mr. George Brown

It is not possible to answer the Question in this form. We know of claims outstanding for about 4 million people, about the same as six months ago.

Mr. Grimond

Apart from the number of claims, can the First Secretary give us their value so that we may get some idea whether we are making the progress which he claims?

Mr. Brown

That is exactly what I meant when I said that one could not answer the Question in this form. Many of these claims are not just for stated amounts but for various formulae such as "a substantial increase". It is not possible to get that kind of quantified answer.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Is not the serious point about this the fact that all these enormous claims are pending at a time when production in this country is completely stagnant?

Mr. Brown

I think that the hon. Member has got the whole thing wrong. The total is about the same as it was six months ago, and I suspect that if one goes back into the past one finds that there was about this number of claims in the pipeline at any one time. The hon. Member should do a little research.