HC Deb 24 February 1969 vol 778 cc1072-3
50. Mr. Dance

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many claims for increases in pay for employees of municipal bus undertakings, in addition to the increases paid since 26th December, 1968, have been notified to her Department; and how many she has approved.

Mr. Harold Walker

Since 26th December, 1968, eight pay proposals affecting municipal bus workers have been notified to my Department. In six of these cases no objection was raised to payment.

Mr. Dance

Is the Minister aware that there is bitter anger amongst skilled maintenance workers in Midland Red who were recently granted a pay rise of 25s. 1d. to bring them into line with Birmingham and Coventry municipal bus employees but who, thanks to the Prices and Incomes Board interfering, are getting only 10s. 2d.? This is an obvious injustice. What is the Minister going to do about it?

Mr. Walker

I am very well aware that there are disparities between groups employed in similar tasks, but these are not new but are a legacy of the free bargaining system and of the operation of the free market beloved by the party opposite. We are not able to remedy these disparities very quickly, within the framework of the present policy.

Mr. R. Carr

Does the Minister not realise that the case brought to his notice by my hon. Friend has nothing to do with a free market but is a direct result of the statutory incomes policy?

Mr. Walker

Quite the contrary. The differences between the incomes of bus workers in the municipal sector and of workers in the company sector have existed for a long time and certainly before the introduction of the Government's policy.

Mr. Dance

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that Answer, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.