§ Mr. Kevin McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the 5.57 per cent. civil service pay offer made to the trade union NIPSA for 2003 had Treasury approval. [164943]
§ Mr. PearsonIt is not the Government's practice to discuss the internal processes that underlie the handling of pay negotiations. All concerned within Government are working together to take forward the Government's firm and fair approach to civil service pay, which is that pay should not jeopardise the imperative of improving services, but should take account of the need to retain, recruit and motivate staff within the spending and delivery plans set in the Northern Ireland Budget.