§ 44. Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she has now received sufficient details of the productivity conditions attached to the recent settlement concluded between David Brown Tractors and the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association to determine whether it was consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe settlement provides for an increase at an annual rate of 6.4 per cent. but lacks productivity conditions, the main incomes policy justification given being labour market requirements. The settlement cannot be accepted as fully consistent with the productivity prices and incomes policy as set out in the current White Paper.
§ Mr. BiffenAs a settlement, in the Minister's own words, is not "fully consistent with" the policy, what are the Government doing about it?
§ Mr. WalkerWe deem it inappropriate to take steps—[Laughter.] Hon. Gentlemen should wait for the reply. We deem it inappropriate to take steps to prevent the implementation of this settlement in view of the more relaxed phase of the incomes policy indicated by the Government's White Paper.