34. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that as from 5th March, 1967, the No. 27 Area Committee of the Electrical Trades Union has raised the rate for electricians by one shilling an hour and for assistants by 9½d. an hour, rises of £2 and £1 3s. 3d. a week, respectively; and if he will refer these rises to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.
§ Mr. HattersleyI am aware that a letter asking firms to increase the wages of electricians and assistants has been circulated by the Committee. The agreement in the electrical contracting industry providing for the increases in question has already been considered by the National Board for Prices and Incomes, and its views given in Report No. 24 (Cmnd. 3167).
Mr. Gresham CookeIs it right that the No. 27 Area Committee should dish out these letters to large shops in the centre of London, giving the impression that the rates of all electricians are going up by this amount? Is this Committee authorised to take this action?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe union concerned does not require authorisation from my Ministry to distribute letters of this sort. My Ministry has made it clear that the initial agreement is acceptable under the terms of the prices and incomes policy but that if organisations and firms have some doubt about whether the agreement applies to them, they should find out from our officers whether they are covered by the initial agreement.