§ 65. Miss Harvie Andersonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to delay implementation of the seamen's agreement relating to increased pay and reduced hours for six months; and by what authority he intends to enforce this.
§ 66. Sir C. Osborneasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that two million workers' wages are tied to the cost of living, and the cost of living has continued to rise, what assurances he has received from the trade unions in the affected industries that his wage-freeze policy will be accepted; and if he will make a statement.
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67. Mr. Brian Harrisonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the biennial review of police pay as an existing commitment will be honoured and take place in September as arranged.
§ 68. and 69. Sir T. Brintonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) whether the salaries of employees, such as salesmen, who are paid on a commission basis are to be subject to the salary standstill;
(2) whether the wage standstill is to apply to pieceworkers whose wages rise through the introduction of new machinery or of improved methods.
§ 70. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if, in view of the fact that farmers' rents in 1965 rose by over 7 per cent. in 24 counties of England and Wales and that farmers' rents rose by 9.2 per cent. in Scotland in the same period, he will make a special appeal to landlords not to increase rents during the next 12 months.
§ Mr. George BrownMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 20th July that
The Government will be consulting the T.U.C., C.B.I. and other interested organisations on the detailed application of the standstill within the next few days and a White Paper will be issued in the near future.These consultations are proceeding urgently and we hope to issue the White Paper very soon. It is our intention to make the guidance given in the White Paper as full as possible and I must ask the hon. Member to await the White Paper.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Prime Minister (1) if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of wage and salary settlements definitely committed to income increases and reduction of hours whose implementation is expected to be deferred for six months;
(2) to what extent the recent agreements concerning the incomes of seamen, judges and doctors will be affected by recent proposals for deferring the implementation of income settlements.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister (1) if it is the policy of Her Majesty's 233W Government that wage increases which are the result of productivity bargains in industry should be exempted from the wage freeze;
(2) whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that wage increases or reductions in hours, which fall due under long-term agreements within the next six months, are to be deferred until six months' time;
(3) by what authority instructions are to be given to arbitrators not to grant wage increases where wage disputes have been referred to them, in pursuance of Her Majesty's Government's wages policy;
(4) whether the implementation of the wage settlement for the seamen is to be deferred for six months;
(5) whether, in the case of a man who is promoted to a higher position, it is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government to legislate to ensure that his salary should not be increased during the next six months;
(6) whether he proposes to give a general direction to the Gas Boards that the recent wage settlement for the gas industry, which is not yet in operation, is to be deferred for six months.
§ Mr. Corfieldasked the Prime Minister (1) on whom the responsibility will rest to carry out the deferment of the implementation of wage agreements already entered into, as proposed in Her Majesty's Government's new economic measures;
(2) whether it is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the implementation of the agreement as to wages, hours and holidays reached between the shipowners and the National Union of Seamen shall be deferred.
§ Mr. George BrownI have been asked to reply.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to an Oral Question by the hon. Member for Renfrew, East (Miss Harvie Anderson) earlier today.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister (1) what action he intends to take against those who increase their prices during the next six months, when this is not due to increases in the cost of imported raw materials, seasonal factors, or increased taxation;
234W(2) what legislation he proposes to introduce to penalise companies who increase their dividends in the next six months;
(3) what legislation he proposes to introduce to penalise employers who increase salaries in the next six months.
§ Mr. A. Royleasked the Prime Minister (1) how he proposes to ensure that architects and accountants in private practice do not increase their fees during the next six months;
(2) how he proposes to ensure that doctors and specialists in private practice do not increase their fees during the next six months;
(3) what legislation he proposes to introduce to ensure that commercial travellers working on commission do not increase their total income during the next six months, in view of Her Majesty's Government's incomes standstill;
(4) what method he proposes to ensure that life assurance salesmen do not increase their sales and commission accounts during the next six months under his fees and salaries standstill policy;
(5) what steps he is intending to take to ensure that lawyers do not earn increased fees during the period of the six months incomes standstill.
§ Mr. George BrownI have been asked to reply.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 20th July, the Government in calling for the standstill and period of severe restraint on prices and incomes recognise the implications for the degree of co-operation and restraint which will be required on the part of those affected by it.
At the same time, the Government intend to strengthen the provisions of the Prices and Incomes Bill and our amendments to this end will be tabled very soon.
§ Miss Harvie Andersonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, by what means he will implement the deferment of the current wages increases in the shipbuilding industry on the Clyde to avoid a wage rise equal to the 13 per cent. increase in the past six months.
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§ Mr. Maudeasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what will be the effect of the Government's new measures on the implementation of the Government's agreement to increase the remuneration of doctors.
§ Sir C. Osborneasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the importance of the wage freeze in his new economic policy, what assurances he received from trade union leaders that they would accept and work this policy, in view of the fact that trades unions in the country have publicly refused to accept a wage freeze of any kind from any Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir T. Brintonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) whether the salary and wage standstill is to apply to staff and employees whose responsibilities are increased by promotion or otherwise;
(2) whether increases due under age/ wage and cash agreements are to be subject to the wage standstill;
(3) whether wages and salaries by agreement linked to the Index of Retail Prices are to be subject to the standstill, in view of the fact that the resulting movement may be either up or down;
(4) whether profit-sharing bonuses are to be subject to the wage and salary standstill;
(5) in view of the wage and salary standstill, what is his policy towards a situation where an employer offers to a prospective employee higher wages than he is already receiving for similar work with his present employer; and what proposals he has to protect the interests of the present employer if the latter is willing to pay more to keep the employee.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what criteria will be applied in considering increases in incomes under the Prices and Incomes Policy during the six months January to July, 1967.
§ Mr. George BrownI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to an oral question by the hon. Member for Renfrew, East (Miss Harvie Anderson) earlier today.
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§ Mr. Hastingsasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) what steps he proposes to take to enforce a freeze of all salaries, prices and dividends; and what extra official staff will be required;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to enforce a six months' wage standstill.
§ Mr. George BrownAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 20th July, the Government in calling for the standstill and period of severe restraint on prices and incomes recognise the implications for the degree of co-operation and restraint which will be required on the part of those affected by it.
At the same time, the Government intend to strengthen the provisions of the Prices and Incomes Bill and our amendments to this end will be tabled very soon.