§ 11.20 p.m.
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, I must inform the House that we are without the assistance of the Hansard reporting staff to-day. As on the last occasion when the reporters did not come in for work, two weeks ago, the staff of the House will do their best, in the absence of the reporters, to produce a Hansard in due course from the tape recordings which are made of our proceedings. I undertook to keep the House informed of progress and can report that, as envisaged when we briefly discussed this matter following Lord Beswick's Private Notice Ouestiqn on June 14, the Clerk of the Parliament's and representatives of the union concerned have now made a joint approach to the Pay Board. On Monday of this week a meeting took place with officials of the Board. The object was to seek clarification of the effect of the pay standstill upon certain matters which are in dispute. We now await the ruling of the Board, which it is hoped will be available shortly.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord the Leader of the House for that statement, may I ask whether he is aware—as I am sure he is —that timing in this matter is of great importance? Has that been impressed upon the Pay Board?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, I think we all hope that the ruling of the Pay Board will be available at the earliest possible moment.