HC Deb 24 April 1967 vol 745 cc1146-7
38. Mr. English

asked the Lord President of the Council whether it is proposed to apply that part of the Government's prices and incomes policy which relates to lower-paid workers to those employees of this House who fall within that category.

Mr. Crossman

I can assure my hon. Friend that any decisions taken on the pay of employees of this House will accord with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

Mr. English

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, unlike the highest-paid workers of the House, the lowest-paid lose earnings during the Recess? Does he think that that is right? Does he not think that it is time for him and the House, through the House of Commons Services Committee, to take control of the pay and conditions of employment of our staff?

Mr. Crossman

That is a rather different question. My hon. Friend originally asked me about the prices and incomes policy, and I answered. If he has particular questions about particular grades of employees here, my hon. Friend can put them to us, but I remind him that the best way is to put them to me personally and not through a Question here, since it is a matter for the Services Committee.

44. Mr. Winnick

asked the Lord President of the Council what action is being taken by the Services Committee to improve the pay of employees of the House of Commons earning £15 and under a week basic pay.

Mr. Crossman

The pay of all employees of the House of Commons earning £15 and under a week basic pay is either already under review by the authorities of the House or may shortly become subject to review in the light of any revision as a result of the current pay research negotiations in the pay of the Civil Service grades to which they are linked. Negotiations are in progress about the rates of pay for the catering staff.

Mr. Winnick

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that some urgency is required here? Is it not a scandal that in our own place of work there should be large groups of people taking home much less than £15 per week?

Mr. Crossman

My hon. Friend should realise that the rates of pay here are largely fixed by linkage, agreed in 1954, with the Civil Service. If it is a scandal here it will be a scandal outside, too.

Mr. English

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the answer to my previous supplementary on the same subject he gave an inaccurate reply? Is he aware that the members of the staff are not all controlled by the House of Commons Services Committee? Does he not think it is time that they were?

Mr. Crossman

That is a different question, and I may well have preferences on that matter.

Mr. Braine

Does the review to which the right hon. Gentleman referred cover the fact that some officers and servants of the House are working excessive hours as a result of the demands put upon them by a decision of the House?

Mr. Crossman

Yes, indeed it does. What is quite clear now is that we need an increase in staff quite apart from an increase in wages.