HC Deb 20 April 1967 vol 745 cc790-1
22. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now take steps to ensure that the practice which has obtained hitherto of linking salary agreements for the voluntary colleges of education with local government agreements shall now be restored.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts

Those voluntary colleges with tight links with local government rates will be able to start to give effect, from 1st July, to the increases already in payment to local government staff.

Dame Irene Ward

Since the previous Answers to this question were unsatisfactory, I am sure that we are all grateful for the progress which has been made. Is there any chance of back pay for the people in any of the new organisations which have been set up under the new procedures?

Mr. Roberts

I am afraid that there is no question of retrospective payment in this case. Payment may begin after 1st July. It may be phased, but retrospection will be applied back to 1st July.

Sir E. Boyle

Can the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that in future we shall never again be faced with this discrimination between non-teaching staff in voluntary colleges and local authority colleges? Bearing in mind the earlier letter sent from the Department giving wrong information, is the hon. Gentleman aware that this matter has caused very justified resentment?

Mr. Roberts

I think that I indicated in reply to the right hon. Gentleman last Thursday why that arose. It is difficult to draw a line when rules and regulations of this sort are propounded. Of course, there have been difficứlties, and we have expressed regret to the few colleges which were misled by the earlier circular.

Mr. Tilney

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the religious colleges on Merseyside still feel that they will lose their staff to colleges maintained by local authorities?

Mr. Roberts

I have no evidence that that is the fact. However, my right hon. Friend and I would be glad to have details of such a case which we should look at very carefully.

Mr. McNamara

Is my hon. Friend aware that lateness of notice of this decision caused a great deal of disturbance among all types of colleges? If the Government are to go forward with this policy, they must give proper notice not only to the colleges but to the universities.

Mr. Roberts

I do not think that it is a question of the length of notice. It was a question of having issued a circular which interpreted the regulations erroneously in the first place. We took very quick steps to put the matter right.