HC Deb 20 May 1968 vol 765 c10W
Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she recommends is to be taken by an employer, with under 100 employees, who cannot come to an agreement with his employees on a wage increase which falls within the criteria outlined in Command Paper No. 3590, and which he is willing to pay.

Mr. Harold Walker

The Government expects all employers to ensure that any improvements in employment incomes satisfy the conditions set out in Cmnd. 3590. The advice and assistance of my Department are available in cases of difficulty.

Mr. John Page

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity by what criteria she judges whether wage increases are significant for the purposes of the Government's prices and incomes policy.

Mr. Harold Walker

All increases in incomes are significant in the sense that they are subject to the requirements of the Government's policy for productivity, prices and incomes as set out in Command 3590. In the context of arrangements for early-warning, however, increases should be reported in all cases where more than 100 employees are involved, and in other cases where the claim does not clearly satisfy the requirements of the criteria and the ceiling, or may have repercussions for the pay, or set trends in the conditions, of other groups of employees.