§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of State for Defence why authority has been refused to the local management of Royal Small Arms ordnance factories to negotiate local piece-work schemes for men working in the Services Department in place of the agreement which expired on 28th June 1972.
§ Mr. BlakerPiece-work rates paid in other sections of the Royal Small Arms factory, Enfield, are not appropriate to maintenance tasks, being designed essentially for production processes. Maintenance employees in the Services Department were covered by a separate incentive scheme, due for review on or after 28th June 1972. The operation of this scheme was terminated at the request of the employees, not by local management, and it is open to these employees to return at any time to the operation of the Services Department scheme. This scheme is in operation in all other Royal Ordnance Factories where it is applicable and the bonus payment element, common to all factories, is being reviewed centrally.