§ 5. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now estimate the effect of the restriction on overtime working upon the take-home pay of municipally employed bus platform staff; what her calculation is of the likely net wastage rate of such staff during the present year; and whether she will approve increases above the prices and incomes norm when basic rates are renegotiated.
§ Mr. Harold Walker:When the Transport Act drivers' hours requirements came into effect on 15th March my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport made important modifications which mitigate the effect on earnings. It is too soon to judge the general impact on overtime working, earnings and wastage. Drivers' hours was a factor in the negotiations preceding the recent municipal busmen's pay settlement. An increase of 9 per cent. was allowed under incomes policy.