HC Deb 10 February 1966 vol 724 cc618-20
The First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Mr. George Brown)

With permission, I will now answer Questions Nos. 11 and 23 together.

With my right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and Minister of Transport I met representatives of the railway unions this morning.

We stressed that a national railway strike would have the most serious consequences for the railways, the men who work on them, and the country. On the understanding that no time would be lost in entering into discussion on those parts of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report relating to productivity, I expressed the Government's willingness to authorise the British Railways Board to improve the offers already made to the extent of advancing the implementation of the 3½ per cent. pay increase by one month, to 1st September, 1966.

We urged the unions to call off the proposed strike and to resume negotiations with the British Railways Board on the basis of this and the offers already made, and made it clear that the Government could not agree to any further concession. The union representatives undertook further to consult their executives without delay.

Mr. Marten

None of us would wish to say anything to jeopardise an honourable settlement of this proposed strike, but can the right hon. Gentleman elaborate what he has said on the question of productivity? Will this be brought into the present negotiations, or deferred until a later stage?

Mr. Brown

I would ask the hon. Member to be so kind as not to press that point now. Anything I say in this respect is only likely to be misunderstood during the afternoon in some way or other, in some quarter or another. I shall be happy to deal with that question later.

Mr. Park

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of us find unacceptable the proposition of the Prices an Incomes Board that pay awards should be related to earnings and not to basic wage rates, and that in this matter they constitute an unfair discrimination against railway-men? Will he therefore make it clear that in the negotiations taking place there will be no binding commitment on any of the parties to accept the recommendations contained in the report?

Mr. Brown

I should like my hon. Friend to take it from me that all the parties concerned, all the unions and the Board, will understand what the situation is. I am sure that we are much better advised to leave it now with them.