§ 62. Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he next plans to meet trade unions representing civil servants to discuss staff morale in Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Privy Council Office (Mr. Richard Luce)I have no plans at present to meet the Civil Service trade unions.
§ Mr. TaylorIn view of the serious problems of securing and retaining staff in some of the major Civil Service offices in Southend, solely because of the high cost of housing and other costs, is it not time that the Government and the Civil Service unions began to discuss regional pay which would reflect the cost of living in different areas? Is my right hon. Friend willing to visit Southend, some time reasonably soon, to discuss the problems with those involved and to see for himself the seriousness of the position?
§ Mr. LuceI am grateful to my hon. Friend. May I answer his last question first by saying yes, I am prepared to meet the 3,000 or so customs and excise officials in Southend, who are doing an excellent job. Pay and conditions are principally a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but, as my hon. Friend will know, arrangements are being made to offer flexible pay schemes and local pay additions, which would allow up to £600, from additional sources of money, to be spent in the area round London, including my hon. Friend's constituency. Those flexible pay arrangements are the best way to deal with the recruitment and retention problems of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. LivingstoneDoes the Minister agree that it might help to retain civil servants in Southend if they were given the same £8,000 housing allowance as the Member of Parliament for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) receives?
§ Mr. LuceI shall not take that point seriously. One sees varying costs of living in the different regions, and the south-east has the highest. A flexible pay scheme that would allow for those variations would be an important move forward.