§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the steps being taken by Her Majesty's Government to revise planning systems in the Royal Naval dockyards to minimise delays in the availability of materials and to reduce non-productive time.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards group as distinct from individual incentive schemes in Royal Naval dockyards ;
(3) whether he will make a statement on evaluations by Her Majesty's Government on the effectiveness or counter-productivity of payment-by-results systems in Royal Naval dockyards ;
(3) whether he will make a statement on the measures being introduced by Her Majesty's Government to overcome inequalities and anomalies in the present wages system of Royal Naval dockyards ;
(4) whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the complex mixture of piece work, direct incentive bonus schemes, in-lieu bonuses, allowances, time work, allowances for special duties and overtime as methods of remuneration in Royal Naval dockyards ;
(5) whether he will make a statement on the anomalies and problems encountered in the application of the jobs specification systems as related to bonus 116W schemes operated in the Royal Naval dockyards.
§ Mr. BuckAs I have informed the hon. Member in reply to previous Questions, a review is being made of the several diferent arrangements under which payments over and above basic pay are made for work undertaken by industrial employees in the Royal dockyards. This review includes all aspects of the present systems of remuneration at these establishments. No final conclusions have yet been reached. Any proposals for change will be the subject of negotiation with the appropriate trade unions.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the plans of Her Majesty's Government for the future of the Royal Naval dockyards with particular reference to production, planning and control and to the need to ensure stability in wage and pay structure.
§ Mr. BuckWe have no plans for changing the present rôle of the Royal Naval dockyards, for which an assured future is foreseen. As already announced, a review is being undertaken of the several systems currently in operation at these establishments for the remuneration of industrial employees. Production, planning and control are under constant study.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the use of bonus schemes to ensure adequate take-home pay for employees in Royal Naval dockyards.
§ Mr. BuckBonuses are paid under productivity and payment-by-results schemes as a means of raising efficiency and output and not for the purpose of increasing earnings.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the application of the guidance on communications and joint consultation contained in the Industrial Relations Code of Practice to the civilian industrial and non-industrial staff in the Royal Naval dockyards.
§ Mr. BuckThe arrangements for communications and joint consultations in 117W the Royal Naval dockyards follow the pattern in force at other defence establishments and meet the requirements of the Industrial Relations Code of Practice.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the status of the Speakman Report on Her Majesty's dockyards wages structure ; what consultations are taking place on its recommendations ; what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards its recommendations ; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BuckThe paper to which the hon. Member refers reflects the personal observations of an outside consultant, Mr. A. J. Speakman, who was engaged to assist in studying the current arrangements which govern the remuneration of industrial employees in the Royal Naval dockyards. Mr. Speakman's observations are being taken into account, together with other studies made by the Department, in the current review of dockyard industrial pay arrangements.