HC Deb 04 November 1946 vol 428 cc196-7W
Mr. Grierson

134, 135 and 136. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is aware that the present total pay and emoluments of many of the managers of State-controlled public houses in the Carlisle district is 70s. per week; and if he will take immediate steps to increase this to an adequate figure;

(2) if he is aware that a wages claim submitted in 1944 on behalf of the managers of the State-controlled public houses in Carlisle and district remains unsettled; and if he will review the negotiating machinery;

(3) if he is aware that the Central Office of the State Managements have informed the managers of the State-controlled public houses in Carlisle and district that no change can be made in their pay and conditions until the appropriate Catering Wages Board have issued an award; and, in view of the fact that this does not conform with the findings of the Catering Wages Commission which specifically excluded the State Management Scheme, if he will reconsider this decision.

Mr. Oliver

In common with the other industrial employees in the Carlisle State Management District, the managers of public houses receive the basic wages settled in agreement with their Union before the war together with war bonus. In April, 1946, an increase in the war bonus of 5s. a week was offered to the Civil Service Union which represents the managers in this district, but this Union have so far not seen fit to accept the offer and have asked for a revision of the basic rates. It has, however, been agreed with the National Union of General and Municipal Workers (which represent industrial employees other than the managers) that consolidation of the war bonus and revision of the basic rates should await the promulgation of Orders made under the Catering Wages Act, 1943, regulating the pay and conditions of service of the various classes of workers in the catering industry. This Act does not apply in terms to workers in the State Management Districts, but His Majesty's Government are pledged to apply the conditions prescribed by Orders made under the Act to these workers. In my right hon. Friend's view the procedure which has been adopted in the case of industrial employees other than managers should also apply to the managers. There is nothing in the Report of the Catering Wages Commission to suggest that this procedure is inappropriate and in fact the Commission specifically referred to the Government's undertaking in regard to catering workers in the State Management Districts.