§ 57. Mr. Redheadasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in relation to an unresolved problem concerning the calculation of leave for members of the staff of Government Communications Headquarters Branch who are engaged on shift work, an official side offer, which was under consideration by the staff side of the Departmental Whitley Council, was withdrawn without explanation or discussions; why the official side proceeded to impose its own solution by administrative action; and what steps he proposes to take to restore the confidence of the staff in the functioning of the appropriate Whitley machinery.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe facts are not as suggested by the hon. Member.
The staff side of the Departmental Whitley Council stated in a letter dated 16th March, 1956, that the official side offer had been carefully considered but was not acceptable. In the same letter a request was made that the matter be referred to the next Departmental Whitley Council meeting.
The matter was discussed at the Departmental Whitley Council meeting on 26th June, 1956, following which the Chairman decided that the offer which the staff side had found to be unacceptable was in excess of the leave entitlement and should therefore not be upheld. At the request of the staff side the matter was again considered at another Departmental Whitley Council meeting earlier this year, when disagreement was formally registered. It was not until after this meeting that the official side proceeded to administrative action.
If the Staff Association concerned wishes to pursue the matter as a Departmental problem it should raise it again with the Government Communications Headquarters Branch. If it wishes to deal with it as a national problem, it should ask the National Staff side to raise it with the Treasury.