HL Deb 02 July 1979 vol 401 cc216-7WA
Earl FORTESCUE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make a Statement on the dispute with the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on the pay of Civil Service scientists and technologists.

Lord SOAMES

The Professional and Technology grades have an offer, ranging from 15½ per cent. to 22½ per cent., based on evidence from a pay research study and calculated in the same way as those accepted by other unions. The IPCS have refused to accept this. The Government have therefore suggested that both sides use the well-established procedure and refer the dispute to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal. The Government have said that they will accept the findings. The IPCS have so far also rejected this proposal.

In the case of scientists, there is a dispute of principle for only 2 grades. We have offered the IPCS exactly what they have sought, subject only to reaching a clear agreement that this offer should not be taken as a precedent. The average increase offered amounts to 26 per cent. The Government have made every effort to bring these disputes to a conclusion. My honourable friend the Minister of State met representatives of the IPCS on 28th June to urge them yet again either to accept the offers or to go speedily to arbitration.