§ Mr. McENTEEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that His Majesty's Treasury took executive action in reducing salaries of the temporary clerical staff in the Civil Service on the 4th August; that it resulted in reductions of [...] of existing salaries both on the 1st September and 1st December last, and that prior to the 4th August the matter had been the subject of discussion between the official and staff sides of the pay committee of the National Whitley Council; whether agreement was reached by the committee; and, if not, was disagreement registered and reported to the National Whitley Council, and permitted to be referred to arbitration?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am aware of the action which was taken in this matter after prolonged discussion with representatives of the staff concerned. The disagreement reached on the pay committee has been reported to the National Whitley Council. As stated in my reply to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 12th December, I am not prepared to agree that the matter should now be referred to arbitration.