HL Deb 23 September 1975 vol 364 c159
Lord INGLEWOOD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will define the term "unsocial hours" which is now in frequent use in support of claims for increased pay.

Lord JACQUES

My Lords, the new pay policy outlined in the White Paper The Attack on Inflation, Cmnd. Paper 6151, makes no provision for increased payments for unsocial hours.

Lord INGLEWOOD

My Lords, whatever the original purpose of this expression, would the noble Lord agree that in the light of experience it is a very good thing not to make this vague provision? Would he, for instance, say that asking your Lordships' House to sit for a week in the middle of September, with no reason given beyond that of the Government's inability to arrange its business better, constitutes unsocial hours?

Lord JACQUES

My Lords, I have no comment to make on the supplementary question.

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