HC Deb 19 January 1976 vol 903 cc319-20W
Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the average earnings of members of the Civil Service.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

On 11th December, my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal mentioned in another place that the average earnings of non-industrial civil servants were £54 per week. This figure was calculated with reference to the Department of Employment's New Earnings Survey national average figure of £60.8 a week. The equivalent figure for the whole of the Civil Service was £51 a week.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the occasions over the last 15 years when Civil Service pay awards have been delayed or cut because of Government incomes policies.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

Awards for various groups were delayed or cut by policies operating in 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973 and 1975.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when civil servants last received an award following a pay review; and what period it brought them up to date with.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

Most non-industrial civil servants received a pay award effective from 1st April 1975 which brought their pay up to date at that time. For the most senior grades the last pay award related to 1st January 1975 but full implementation of this has been deferred.

The last award for most industrial civil servants was effective from 1st July 1975 and took account of the relevant circumstances up to that time.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the occasions, including the current suspention, when Government has interfered with awards made under the fair comparison procedure since it was introduced following the Royal Commission recommendation in 1954.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The implementation of pay awards, following from pay research exercises for the non-industrial Civil Service was modified as a result of Government incomes policies effective in 1966, 1968 and 1973. In addition the Government's current counter-inflation policy has required the suspension of pay research.