§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate of the total cost to the United Kingdom aviation industry of the recent air traffic control assistants' industrial action.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis:The industry faced many other problems during the period and it is not possible to make a comprehensive estimate of the net costs attributable to the action by the air traffic control assistants.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Trade in what respects the revised pay offers made by the Civil Aviation Authority to its air traffic control assistants in October differed from the offer which the Civil Aviation Authority was prevented from making at the outset of the dispute; whether these later offers are consistent with the Government's pay policy; and in what respects the earlier offer was inconsistent with pay policy.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis:The offers which led to a settlement of the dispute differ from the possibilities on which the CAA had earlier sought advice from the Government in that they are compatible with pay policy. The hon. Member will not expect me to give details of such suggestions as were discussed. The main feature of the settlement is that on 1st April 1978 a start will be made on implementing the new pay scales in a way which is compatible with pay policy.