§ Mr. Ryanasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the confusion resulting from the management side's interpretation of the prices and incomes policy in their negotiation with National Health Service medical laboratory technicians, who have not had a pay increase for 30 months; and if he will seek to prevent the strike called by A.S.T.M.S. for 20th June by asking the management side to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with their employees.
§ Mr. SnowNegotiations in the Whitley Council are proceeding on a claim for a salary increase to take account of the outcome of negotiations, which are still in progress, for comparable grades in the Civil Service. Meantime a salary increase of 7 per cent. from 1st April, 1968, was agreed on 6th June. As the current salaries have been in operation since 1st January, 1966, the increase does not exceed the ceiling for settlements in paragraph 28 of Cmnd. 3590. The Staff Side of the Council have made no proposal for strike action, and the settlement emerged from normal negotiations without intervention by my right hon. Friend.