§ 2. Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association has terminated its minimum wage agreement with the Engineering Employers' Federation; what is the expected consequences of this for the Government's prices and incomes policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Roy Hattersley)Yes. Because of this development the Ministry has had to examine a number of domestic claims and settlements. The National Board for Prices and Incomes at present examining the pay and conditions of engineering non-manual workers.
§ Mr. BiffenSurely the Joint Parliamentary Secretary must be aware of a whole number of wage settlements that have been concluded on account of activities by D.A.T.A., particularly the pressed steel agreement? Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that he has now concluded his examination of this agreement? Can he confirm that it falls within the criteria of the Government's prices and incomes policy?
§ Mr. HattersleyI can confirm that some domestic agreements have been examined and fall within the criteria. Others are still under examination, including the ones to which the hon. Member has referred.