HC Deb 22 April 1980 vol 983 cc208-9
12. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has made in his review of the future of the Clegg Commission.

Mr. Prior

The Government continue to keep the work of the commission under review.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. In Heaven's name why? How many more reports do we have to have from this dangerous old loony before the Government realise the damage that he is doing to employment and services throughout the public sector?

Mr. Prior

My hon. Friend asks why we keep the commission going. It has a number of outstanding references which must be completed. After that we shall reconsider whether to keep the commission going.

Mr. Christopher Price

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us about a matter near to the heart of Professor Clegg? Will he tell us why the university teachers had been promised a conclusion to their investigation by 1 October this year but have suddenly been told that it will not now be ready until mid-1981?

Mr. Prior

I shall need to have notice of that particular point but I see no reason why the results of the investigation should not be ready before the middle of 1981. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman about it.

Mr. David Price

Is my right [...] Friend aware that Professor Clegg, effort on the professions supplementary to medicine throws a great deal of doubt upon the intellectual ability of that commission to find comparability? Is my right hon. Friend also aware that as a result it puts great prejudice on the Whitley Council which should be handling these matters?

Mr. Prior

I feel sorry for the professor. When he produces a report that keeps down the level of wage settlements he is criticised. When he produces a report that increases the level of wage settlements he is also criticised. He is obviously in the position not unknown to some other people. He cannot win.

Mr. Varley

Will the right hon. Gentleman take time in the House, now, to repudiate the offensive language used by the hon. Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne)? After all, the Government are continuing with the Clegg commission, they rely on its recommendations and as far as we know they have supported those recommendations. Is it not also a question of good manners?

Mr. Prior

This is the second time my hon. Friend has referred to Professor Clegg in his rather unflattering way. On the last occasion I repudiated his reference. Professor Clegg has a difficult job to do and I do not think that he wishes to go on doing it. That is another reason perhaps, why we should reconsider the future of the commission. I would like to thank Professor Clegg for the hard work that he has done.

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