HL Deb 14 June 1973 vol 343 cc823-5

3.29 p.m.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question of which I have given Her Majesty's Government Private Notice—namely,

Whether they will make a Statement about the progress of negotiations on the Hansard Reporters' pay issue, and if they will give an assurance that the seasonal bonus, as previously paid, is being considered.

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, discussions are continuing with the staff association concerned and I am anxious to ensure that every effort is made to bring this matter to a conclusion. I am glad to be able to tell your Lordships that the reporters have informed the House authorities that they will be in normal attendance tomorrow. In the meantime, I believe that it will be more helpful to these discussion if I were to refrain at this stage from making any public statement about the points at issue.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. But, as has been expressed on a previous occasion, he will know the value which the House places upon the services of the whole Hansard team, and he will know, therefore, how great is our interest in the progress of these negotiations. Of course. I accept that the Floor of the House is not the appropriate place to conduct pay negotiations, but I would press the point towards the end of my Question; since a seasonal bonus was paid in 1971, as the noble Earl knows, in lieu of the settlement of a satisfactory pay structure, and a similar bonus was of course paid in an earlier year, can he give an assurance that if this matter goes before the Pay Board tomorrow, as I understand it may well do. Her Majesty's Government's view expressed to that Board will be that such a bonus is payable again for 1972?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, the House authorities and staff association concerned are going to consult Pay Board officials tomorrow about the implications of the Pay Code on the matters which are the subject of discussion. I am sure that any solution, or any claim, falling within the requirements of counter inflation policy will be most carefully considered.

LORD BESWICK

I am much obliged to the noble Earl, and of course I accept what he says.

LORD WINDLESHAM

The noble Lord must not keep on calling me the noble Earl.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I was assuming that the noble Lord's promotion carried with it certain advancements. I thank him for the answer he has given. But may I ask him again, when this matter goes before the Board will it be the Government's expressed view that this bonus does fall within the scope of the conditions of Phase 2?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, it is difficult to go into this in detail, as the noble Lord himself rightly said in his first supplementary question. There is a great deal of case law, of case history about the interpretation of the Pay Code and I think it is only right to leave this matter to the Pay Board.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, could the Minister say whether the Hansard reporters are covered by the Whitley machinery? And, as the noble Lord responsible in this House for the Civil Service, would he not say that the time has now arrived when the Whitley machinery ought to be looked at with the object of introducing a new form of conciliation machinery on behalf of the Civil Service in this country?

LORD MAELOR

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord the Leader of the House whether it would not be better for this matter to be dropped entirely now, and not discussed publicly? It would be far better, I think, if he would declare that this matter should be dropped entirely, with no more questions asked or answered.

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I think that is right, and that the noble Lord, Lord Maelor, has caught the feeling of the House on this matter.