HC Deb 04 March 1970 vol 797 cc410-1
39. Mr. Allason

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many different Service retired pay codes are current.

Mr. Hattersley

Ten, Sir.

Mr. Allason

As there undoubtedly will have to be another Service pay code in the very near future, is it not time that some of these pay codes were amalgamated as a step towards fulfilling the 1964 Labour election pledge of parity?

Mr. Hattersley

Much improvement needs to be made in the pay codes and in other public service pay codes but I do not think it possible to give any precise answer as to how soon that improvement can be announced.

Mr. Lipton

Are not some of these older pay codes now very much out of date and the number of people being paid under very old pay codes getting fewer, so that the time has come to rationalise the procedure and reduce the number of pay codes to perhaps four or five at the outside?

Mr. Hattersley

As I say, there is a strong case for rationalisation, but this matter is very complicated and it must take some time.