§ 71. Mr. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware of the concern among the civilian employees of his Department in Gibraltar at the protracted negotiations on their claim for a 42-hour week, which was first made in 1960; and whether he will take action either to reach agreement on this claim or to enable it to be submitted to arbitration.
§ Mr. HayThis claim was rejected on two occasions—firstly, following a 13 per cent. pay award by arbitration in December, 1960, which was expressly based on a 44-hour working week, and secondly in September, 1962. Meanwhile a further comprehensive wage claim was tabled and a 7 per cent. pay increase was 235W negotiated in December, 1963. The claim was reviewed in February this year, and is under negotiation now. It would therefore be premature to consider arbitration.