New Towns Staff (Pay) (Hansard, 14 March 1967)

§ 37. Mr. Dance
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he will take to ensure that the new town staff pay scales do not fall behind those relating to local government officers of similar grades.

§ 52. Mr. Carlisle
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he will not implement the agreed pay award for employees of the New Town Development Corporations, in view of the fact that a similar award for employees of local authorities in England and Wales has now been implemented.

§ 53. Mr. Carlisle
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that the agreed pay award for employees of the New Towns Development Corporations will be implemented not later than 1st July, 1967.

§ Mr. Mellish
Both sides of the Whitley Council for New Towns Staff have been told that new pay scales may be implemented on and from 1st July, 1967, although it is possible that payment might have to be made in instalments. From that date new towns staff will have pay parity with local government officers of similar grades. Earlier payment would not be in accordance with the requirements of the White Paper on the Period of Severe Restraint (Cmnd. 3150).

§ Mr. Dance
But does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the Government's pay freeze has put these excellent public servants at least five months behind their colleagues in local government?

§ Mr. Mellish
The question of local authority salaries was settled before my right hon. Friend announced the pay freeze on 20th July, 1966. The new towns agreement had not been agreed at this time. This is the difficulty which we have had to face. However, after 1st July this year, the parity I spoke of will come about.

§ Mr. Carlisle
As the New Town Development Corporation's pay award was agreed on 31st July, does the hon. Gentleman not agree that these people are another group which is being unfairly and unjustly penalised as a result of the Government's economic policies?

§ Mr. Mellish
Because this Government have had the courage to try to govern this nation and control inflation, of course some people have suffered some hardship, which we are prepared to justify.