HC Deb 24 February 1969 vol 778 cc1073-4
51. Mr. Waddington

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many wage agreements made at local, company or plant level in industries for which national wage increases have been approved during the past 12 months have been notified to her Department; how many of them she has approved; and how many she has disallowed.

Mr. Harold Walker

Information covering the past 12 months could not be supplied without incurring disproportionate expense. During the past six months my Department has dealt with 531 cases involving some pay improvement for workers in industries where national wage increases have been agreed, of which 511 were accepted and 20 rejected.

Mr. Waddington

In these cases was account taken of increases at national levels, and how at the time was account taken of national agreements which might or might not be sanctioned by the Secretary of State?

Mr. Walker

Certainly, local productivity deals coming before my Department for approval are seen against the background of national wage increases which have taken place, but national increases which are pending usually provide some offsetting arrangements.

52. Mr. Waddington

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether it remains her policy that in considering increases in pay settled at national level account must be taken of probable increases at local level and conversely that increases in rates settled at plant level should take account of relevant increases settled at other levels; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Harold Walker

The Government's policy remains as stated by the hon. Member.

Mr. Waddington

How can this in fact be done? How can local agreements take account of national agreements which, at the time of the local agreements, are being negotiated and might or might not finish by being sanctioned by the Secretary of State?

Mr. Walker

There are difficulties, but I have just explained to the hon. Member that agreements coming before my Department and affecting local settlements very often include some offsetting arrangements to take account of national increases either pending or current.