§ 21. Mr. Moonmanasked the Minister of Labour what reply he has sent to the scientific staff employed in private in- 722 dustry who are subjected to a standstill of their merit pay who have made representations to him that scientific civil servants of similar qualifications and experience are able to enjoy annual increments.
§ Mr. HattersleyWe have received no representations specifically from scientific staff employed in private industry. The distinction during the standstill and severe restraint periods between automatic increments and discretionary merit increases is of general application. Paragraph 26 of the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy after 30th June, 1967 (Cmnd. 3235) indicates the conditions under which after that date managements may return to progressions based on added experience, increased responsibility or special effort.
§ Mr. MoonmanWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I remind him that there is considerable anxiety amongst research staffs in organisations, who feel that there is a somewhat doubtful anomaly existing between them and the Civil Service?
§ Mr. HattersleyMy hon. Friend may be comforted to know that, in one or two establishments, suggestions have been made that they have increments exactly in line with those of the Civil Service and that, when a case has been made, my Ministry has been happy to let those increases go forward.