§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce his decision on the university lecturers' salary negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the time taken to reach this decision.
§ Mr. MacGregorMy Department has today notified the chairman of committee A of the Universities Academic Salaries Committees that we accept the pay increases recommended for non-clinical academic staff in the committee's 25th report. My Department has also written to the chief executive of the Universities Funding Council to authorise the release of the £20 million held back against the conclusion of a satisfactory pay settlement. I had to consider the 25th report carefully against the criterion which we set for the release of the £20 million—greater flexibility and differentiation in the salary structure. I have made it clear that I shall be looking for greater expansion of the flexibility element within the pay structure in next year's settlement for non-clinical academic staff.